Cohan's OT Goal Lifts Duke Past Syracuse, 16-15

Saturday, March 26

Durham, N.C.

12:00 PM

Duke University

7-4, 1-0

Syracuse

5-2, 1-1

Syracuse

Duke University

Cohan's OT Goal Lifts Duke Past Syracuse, 16-15

3/26/2016 3:51:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score MLAX vs. Syracuse: Deemer Class Postgame Interview MLAX vs. Syracuse: Chad Cohan Game Winner MLAX vs. Syracuse: Deemer Class Scores Seven MLAX vs. Syracuse: Chad Cohan Postgame Interview MLAX vs. Syracuse: Myles Jones Postgame Interview MLAX vs. Syracuse: John Danowski Postgame Interview Remembering Jimmy Regan Box Score Season Statistics Box Score (HTML)

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. – Senior midfielder Chad Cohan scored 53 seconds into the first overtime session to give No. 9 Duke a 16-15 victory over No. 5 Syracuse on Saturday afternoon in front of 3,571 fans at Koskinen Stadium. Duke's effort was highlighted by a seven-goal, two-assist performance from Deemer Class as the Blue Devils rallied from as many as five goals down to register the win.

With the win, the Blue Devils improve to 7-4 overall and 1-0 in ACC play while the Orange drops to 5-2 overall and 1-1 in the league.

“As a group I've never been more proud of a group of guys,” said head coach John Danowski. “To be down by five goals against Syracuse – a team that's having a great year so far – and to come from behind and keep playing and playing together. I've never been more proud of a group in my career.”

Syracuse led nearly all of regulation, holding advantages of 4-1 at the end of the first period and 11-6 at intermission. The Blue Devils entered the final quarter trailing, 14-10, but used a 5-0 spurt to claim a 15-14 lead on a goal by Class with 6:28 left to play. Class had three goals and an assist in the 5-0 run.

The Orange responded as Derek DeJoe knotted the game with a tally at the 3:29 mark, ending a scoreless drought of 11:33. With less than two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Syracuse stymied a Duke extra-man opportunity and held possession until the final horn, but failed to score.

Duke's Kyle Rowe opened the extra frame with his 18th faceoff win and game-high 13th ground ball of the day before Cohan took a feed from Jack Bruckner in front of the net and beat Orange goalkeeper Warren Hill. The goal was Cohan's third of the afternoon and provided the Blue Devils with their first overtime triumph since a 9-8 decision over North Carolina on March 15, 2014.

The seven goals for Class marked a career-best effort for the Baltimore, Md., native while the nine total points were one shy of his top outing, a six-goal, four-assist performance versus Syracuse in 2014. Aiding the Duke offense were Justin Guterding (3 goals) and Myles Jones (2goals & 2 assists). Jones reached the 200-point benchmark on the afternoon, pushing his career totals to 113 goals and 88 assists. Danny Fowler posted seven saves between the pipes.

Sergio Salcido paced Syracuse with four goals and two assists while Tim Barber added three tallies and Dylan Donahue chipped in two goals and three assists. In goal, Hill finished with 11 saves.

Saturday's tilt featured two of the nation's top faceoff individuals in Rowe and Syracuse's Ben Williams, who entered the weekend with win percentages of .693 and .672, respectively. Rowe secured 18-of-32 (.563) draws compared to Williams, who won just 12-of-28 (.429) restarts.

In honor of former Blue Devil Jimmy Regan and all military members, Duke celebrated Military Appreciation Day on Saturday. Regan, a four-year letterwinner and 2002 graduate of Duke, was killed Friday, Feb. 9, 2007, in northern Iraq when his vehicle was struck by an explosive. Regan was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment stationed in Fort Benning, Ga. He was 26. Those who would like to support the Lead the Way Fund started in honor of Regan can do so by visiting www.leadthewayfund.org.

“Jimmy Regan means the world to our program,” Danowski said. “He is the ideal Duke man. He is who we hope to be on our best day.”

Duke remains at home to entertain North Carolina on Friday, April 1 at 6 p.m. The game will be televised live on ESPNU.

#GoDuke