Last night’s game between Army and Syracuse was absolutely wild. Army Men’s Lacrosse just didn’t show up to play; they showed up to conquer, pulling off an overtime thriller against Syracuse in the Carrier Dome. This win wasn’t just any win; it marked their third straight victory over Syracuse and kicked off their season with a 4-0 for the first time since 2007. Talk about setting the tone.
The game got going with Syracuse scoring first, but Army wasn’t about to let that slide. Jacob Morin fired back with a laser, and then Evan Plunkett pushed the Black Knights ahead. Sure, Syracuse snagged the next couple of goals, but Army’s response? A triple-threat comeback with Reese Burek netting two and Morin pulling off a jaw-dropper of a goal. Heading into the second, Army was up 5-4, but Syracuse wasn’t backing down, flipping the script to lead at the half.
Down 9-6 in the third didn’t faze the Black Knights. O’Connor and Plunkett narrowed the gap, and Eicher kept the momentum going. Even after Syracuse tried to pull away, Burek and Plunkett weren’t having it, tying things up before the final quarter. The lead flipped a few more times, but when crunch time hit, Army’s Gunnar Fellows and Morin stepped up, keeping the Knights in the fight.
The game stretched into overtime after a nail-biting final few minutes. Army’s Chess made a clutch save to deny Syracuse the win, setting the stage for an overtime that was nothing short of legendary. No timeouts, just pure trust in the team. And boy, did it pay off. Eicher, dodging and weaving, found the net, sealing the game and sprinting straight into Army history.
Beating Syracuse? Huge. But what this means for Army Lacrosse is even bigger. After last season’s heartbreak—so close to Memorial Day weekend—they are hungry for more. Crushing Rutgers and now taking down Syracuse shows that Army is not just here to play; they are here to dominate.
This season’s looking bright, with Army potentially marching undefeated into the Patriot League tournament. And while their schedule isn’t stacked with ACC or Big Ten giants, don’t think for a second that makes our journey any less impressive. The big question hanging in the air is can Army take home an NCAA Championship? It’s a tall order, especially with the top teams setting a fierce pace. But last year showed us anything’s possible. Army stood toe-to-toe with the best and nearly made it all the way.
Calling Army Lacrosse America’s team isn’t just about patriotism; it’s about resilience, skill, and the heart these guys bring to every game. Winning the championship might seem like a dream, but if anyone’s poised to turn that dream into reality, it’s this squad. As we look ahead, let’s not just root for wins; let’s root for history in the making. Army Lacrosse isn’t just aiming for a good season; they’re eyeing that championship trophy. And after last night? I believe more than ever they’ve got a real shot at it.
