Syracuse stuns top-seeded Florida

Holden

SU

STONY BROOK, N.Y. — Sarah Holden scored her fourth goal with 2:02 remaining in double overtime and No. 4 Syracuse upset top-seeded Florida on Friday 14-13, to advance to its first women’s lacrosse national championship game.

Holden netted the winner by making a move from up top and buried a bounce shot by Florida goaltender Misty Meagher.

Michelle Tumolo and Alyssa Murray added three goals apiece for the Orange (19-3), who overcame a pair of seven-goal deficits and will face either Maryland or Northwestern on Sunday night.

Shannon Gilroy scored five goals for Florida (19-3), which failed to become the first program in its third year of existence to reach the championship game. Brittany Dashiell added four goals for the Gators, who blew leads of 11-4 and 12-5.

Florida appeared to have won with nine seconds remaining in the first overtime but Gabi Wiegand’s low shot was disallowed when officials ruled she was using an illegal stick.

Backup goaltender Kelsey Richardson made four saves after replacing Syracuse’s Alyssa Costantino in the second half. Among Richardson’s saves included key stops on Gilroy and Dashiell as the Orange were starting their comeback.

The Gators held their second seven-goal lead after Dashiell scored with 17:15 remaining. Syracuse answered with three straight goals in a span of 3:49 and was within 12-8 on Murray’s goal at 7:49.

Florida scored its last goal when Gilroy beat Richardson with 7:19 left. But less than a minute later, Holden scored the first of five straight goals for Syracuse. Among them was the tying tally, when she moved in on Meagher and scored on a low shot from the center hash mark.