Top-ranked Syracuse (9-1, 3-0) overcame a slow opening quarter to knock off Cornell (3-7, 2-2) at home Tuesday night 15-8.
The Orange got off to a quick start as Nick Mariano scored just under four minutes into the game. Cornell would counter with three goals of its own, all of them assisted by Big Red freshman Jeff Teat.
This in-state rivalry got testy early and never really stopped. There ended up being 12 minutes worth of penalties between the two teams, often resulting in 5-on-5 or even 5-on-4 situations.
SU sophomore Nate Solomon scored one more before Teat helped on Cornell's fourth goal of the period. Junior Brendan Bomberry launched one on a man-up opportunity to end the quarter at 4-3.
After a rough first where he didn't record a save, senior goalie Evan Malloy finally settled in and blanked the Big Red for nearly 25 minutes of play, while the Orange went on a 9-0 run spanning the second and third quarters. At half, it was 7-4 and Syracuse did not let the intermission cool them off as they kept firing into the second half.
Senior Jordan Evans led the way with five points, contributing three goals and two assists on the night. He recorded his hat-trick during that unanswered run.
Cornell's Colton Rupp scored his twelfth goal of the year to finally get the Big Red back on the board.
The two teams would trade goals the rest of the way as Syracuse opened up its bench and looked to get rest for its starters as well as test out some younger players. Senior Nick Mariano would punch one in to give him a hat-trick on the night.
Teat ended up finishing the name with a game-high six points after he slotted home two late goals past senior Dom Madonna and freshman Drake Porter, both on in relief of Malloy.
Syracuse will get a few days to prepare before it flies down to Chapel Hill for a matchup with seventeenth-ranked North Carolina. The Tar Heels might be 6-5 on the season, but it is hard to overlook the defending national champions playing on their home turf. The Orange takes on the Tar Heels Saturday at 4 pm. Tune into WAER at 3:30 for Countdown to Faceoff.