It was a fast break Syracuse style – a wild, behind-the-back clear followed by a blinding give-and-go, leaving a defense no chance and a wide-open Orangeman in front of the net.

Unlike a usual Syracuse men’s lacrosse break, the ball never saw the back of the net. And, even more atypical of the end-to-end play, the player most prominently involved was goalie Jay Pfeifer.

Pfeifer’s mad dash down the field and his comical misfire from point-blank was the best example of Syracuse taking advantage of its 18-8 blowout of Albany on Saturday in the Carrier Dome to let loose and experiment.

Other than Pfeifer turning from goalie to attacker, SU found ways to have fun all game. Defenseman Scott Ditzell scored his first goal as an Orangeman, making like Michael Powell and dodging around an Albany defenseman before bouncing a shot by Albany goalie Kevin Rae with his longstick.

‘It was fun,’ said Ditzell, mega-watt grin still plastered to his face about an hour and a half after his score. ‘It was nice to get the D going.’

Michael Powell found his way into the face-off X, and career backup goalie Nick Donatelli found his way into the net. But the most shining moment of Syracuse’s laugher was Pfeifer’s shot on goal, the best chance the senior has had in his career to score a goal.

After making a save, Pfeifer rushed out his net looking to clear. Eventually, he dished the ball to defenseman Steve Panarelli, but too late to get back into the cage.

Pfeifer, who surveyed the field to make sure he wasn’t offside, looked like a squirrel in the middle of the road.

Then, freshman Steve Panarelli flipped a sweet behind-the-back pass with his longstick about 20 yards ahead to Pfeifer, igniting the crowd. Pfeifer roared down the field and tossed a pass to Powell, who gave it right back with Pfeifer standing just outside Rae’s crease.

‘I was hoping he’d shoot it,’ Powell said. ‘I didn’t pass it to him to make another pass. I play to entertain people. I thought it would be pretty entertaining if Jay scored.’

Think it’s tough having a Tewaaraton Award attacker facing you? Try Jay Pfeifer.

‘I got really scared,’ Rae said. ‘That’s the worst – one goalie scoring on another.’

Luckily for Rae, he didn’t. With his giant goalie stick, Pfeifer unleashed a wild shot that, considering how close he was to the net, couldn’t have been more off.

‘Jay blew it,’ Powell said jokingly.

‘We need to get Jay some more shooting drills to get him comfortable around the goal,’ SU head coach John Desko said, also a tinge of laughter in his voice.

Pfeifer’s near miss received perhaps the largest ovation of the day, second only to Powell’s how-did-he-do-that, backhanded goal in the second quarter. After the shot, Panarelli and former SU star Ryan Powell – Michael’s older brother and current SU assistant coach – added to the carnival atmosphere, waving their arms to encourage the fans to stand up. The only thing missing was Emilio Estevez – playing the role of Gordon Bombay, of course – saying, ‘This isn’t a (lacrosse) game. This is a circus.’

After the game, that feeling continued. Players cracked jokes and ribbed one another at the postgame press conference. When a reporter asked Pfeifer what happened on his shot, Powell said, ‘Yeah, Jay, what did happen on that?’

Pfeifer got revenge later when Powell fielded a question about the unveiling of a special move he’s been touting all season. Pfeifer chided, ‘The face-off (ITALICS)was(ITALICS) the move.’

Swilling soda and cracking jokes, the players looked like anything but a national title contender. But the result – a 10-goal win on the heels of another loss – was what the Orangemen needed for their confidence and morale.

Said SU head coach John Desko: ‘It was good for our players to put some points on the board.’

Published on April 25, 2004 at 12:00 pm