Syracuse Edges Duke in Thriller

Syracuse secured a hard-fought 16-15 victory over Duke in their Atlantic Coast Conference opener on Saturday. The game, played in front of 9,304 fans at the Dome, saw both offenses start strong. Syracuse's Joey Spallina delivered a six-point performance, while Payton Anderson contributed a career-high five points.

The Syracuse defense was instrumental, particularly in the final moments, holding onto a one-goal lead. Despite Duke's late push, an illegal screen with under 30 seconds remaining turned the ball over to Syracuse, securing the win. The Orange capitalized on man-up opportunities, scoring on three such chances.

Despite defensive challenges in the middle quarters, where Duke scored 13 points, Syracuse's goalie McCol made key saves in the fourth quarter. The team also won the ground ball battle in the closing minutes, crucial for maintaining possession and ultimately clinching the narrow victory.