Syracuse unleashed a scoring frenzy in the second quarter, netting a season-high eight goals to secure their second-highest goal total of the year. This victory marks their fifth consecutive win, maintaining an unblemished 4-0 record at the Dome.
Leading the charge were seniors Joey Spallina, Michael Leo, and Finn Thomson. Spallina dazzled with six points, including two goals and four assists, bringing him closer to Mike Powell's 307-point record with a career total of 294 points. Leo contributed with five goals, while Thomson added three goals and an assist, showcasing the depth of Syracuse's offensive arsenal.
Georgetown started strong, capitalizing on their first two shots with Liam Connor setting up Jake Bickel and Joe Cesare, earning a game-high seven points and an early lead for the Hoyas.
The Orange responded with Matt McIntee scoring unassisted at 9:14, followed by a quick Hoyas goal. But it was Wyatt Hottle who ignited Syracuse's scoring spree at 2:28. Greg Elijah-Brown capitalized on a man advantage, and Thomson closed the quarter with a goal, setting the stage for a dominant performance.
Payton Anderson kicked off the second quarter with a goal, the first of eight as Syracuse outscored Georgetown 8-3. John Mullen's faceoff prowess set up Spallina for a quick response to a Hoyas goal, and from there, the Orange unleashed six unanswered goals, turning a close game into a commanding lead.
Georgetown Head Coach Kevin Warne noted, "That second quarter was the turning point of the game. Scoring eight goals is not something we are accustomed to allowing."
From 2:28 in the first to 3:37 in the second, Syracuse outscored the Hoyas 11-1, establishing a lead that proved too much to overcome. Georgetown managed a brief rally with two late goals in the half, but Syracuse held a 12-6 advantage at the break.
Joey Spallina captured the excitement of the moment, saying, "When we score two or three in a row, and the Dome's rocking, you just want to keep scoring and hear the crowd going crazy...it's the best feeling."
The second half began with a quick goal from Thomson, assisted by Spallina. Leo followed with consecutive goals, extending Syracuse's lead to nine midway through the third quarter.
Georgetown attempted a comeback with a four-goal run in the third, but Spallina's setups for Hottle and Luke Rhoa in the final minutes quelled any hopes of a rally.
In the fourth quarter, Georgetown added two more goals, but Leo's fifth of the night sealed a dominant home win for Syracuse. The Orange now hold an 18-6 all-time record against Georgetown and a 7-2 record at the Dome.
Syracuse, now 8-2, eagerly anticipates their first ACC challenge of the year against the Duke Blue Devils on Saturday, March 28, at 2 p.m. at the JMA Wireless Dome.