Syracuse Advances to Final Four with 13-11 Victory Over North Carolina

Syracuse defeated North Carolina 13-11 in the NCAA Quarterfinals, securing a spot in the Final Four. The Orange will face Notre Dame in the semifinals.

Joey Spallina led Syracuse with six points, scoring three goals and adding three assists. Finn Thomson also contributed a hat trick, including the game-winning goal. Luke Rhoa tallied two goals and one assist, while Wyatt Hottle finished with one goal and two assists. Michael Leo also scored a goal.

Johnny Mullen excelled at face-offs, winning 13 of 24 attempts against Brady Wambach, who had been held below 50% for the first time since his freshman season. Mullen also scored two goals directly following face-off wins. Goalkeeper Jimmy McCool made 12 saves on 23 shots on goal.

North Carolina's Anthony Raio scored two goals in the first half. Dom Pietramala also scored two goals for the Tar Heels. Syracuse overcame a 6-2 deficit in the second quarter, embarking on a 6-0 run that spanned the second and third quarters to take an 8-6 lead. The Orange maintained their lead through the fourth quarter after the game was tied at 10-10 with 10 minutes remaining, scoring three consecutive goals to establish a 13-10 advantage.