Senior goalie Jay Pfeifer jokingly declared it a ‘toilet-bowl’ game.

Two teams that have won 14 of the last 17 men’s lacrosse NCAA National Championships will take the field Saturday with a combined 1-6 record. Two teams – Syracuse and Princeton – that have dominated lacrosse like the Romans once dominated the world, are now struggling for victories.

Pfeifer’s sense of humor aside, a Syracuse loss to Princeton on Saturday would be devastating and prolong Syracuse’s worst start since 1975. That year, the Orange started 1-5, en route to a 3-8 finish, SU’s second-worst finish since World War II. Since then, Syracuse has never lost more than six games in a season and has appeared in 22 straight Final Fours.

No. 8 Syracuse visits No. 15 Princeton at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Class of 1952 Stadium with a chance to put an end to one of the worst starts in program history. But Princeton (0-3) has started even worse. The Tigers haven’t opened its season at 0-3 since 1999.

‘We’re not really trying to think about our record,’ Pfeifer said. ‘We’re trying to move on. We’re 1-3 for the first time in a while.’

The good news for the Orange (1-3) is its three straight losses – to Virginia, Georgetown and Johns Hopkins – have all come to top five opponents. Johns Hopkins and Virginia are ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. The losses have come by a combined five goals.

Still, with such a dynamic lacrosse history, a 1-3 start is nearly uncharted territory. Never in head coach John Desko’s six-year tenure has such a start occurred. His worst start is 4-2. Only once in his career – in 2003 – has SU lost three straight games.

Syracuse hadn’t lost back-to-back home games since 1995.

Typically, the Orange plays a top-heavy schedule, but never has Syracuse struggled with it so greatly.

‘It’s not something we’re real down about,’ said junior attack Brian Crockett. ‘We’ve made a few mistakes, but it’s nothing we can’t correct.’

In talking about the slow start, Syracuse players struggled for answers. All the games have been close, they said. A save here or a goal there and the record would have a different look. The losses seem just as mind-boggling to the players as the rest of the lacrosse world.

Pfeifer said Desko has taken the intensity up a notch in practice, but Desko hasn’t panicked.

‘It’s a fine line,’ Desko said. ‘You want to push guys, but you don’t want to overdo it.’

Part of SU’s problem is a roster loaded with young talent. The attack returned just one starter – Crockett. The youth has shown in the close losses, in which a veteran team may have eked out wins.

Take last Friday’s 12-11 overtime loss to Johns Hopkins. SU led nearly the whole game, but failed to score in the final 6:37 of regulation, blowing a two-goal lead.

But even SU’s veteran players have little experience losing. The seniors have reached three Final Fours and won two NCAA Championships.

For these players, the closest thing to losing came in 2003, the year Syracuse lost three straight games toward the end of the season. With a mediocre 7-5 record, the Orange had to defeat Georgetown in its final regular-season game to ensure its spot in the NCAA Tournament.

While that rough stretch put a scare into the Orange, the most difficult portion of this season’s schedule comes to a close Saturday. While all of SU’s opponents are top teams, none present the challenges the Orange faced the past few weeks.

Desko said he wouldn’t put Saturday’s game in must-win territory for either team. Princeton, he said, has its Ivy League schedule and a possible NCAA Tournament automatic bid to fall back on.

As an independent, Syracuse does not. Despite Princeton’s 0-3 record, a win against the Tigers would help boost the Orange’s credentials.

Actually, SU could use any win. As Pfeifer said, the losing is uncharted territory.

‘Once we get the first (win),’ Pfeifer said, ‘we should get on a little role.’

Published on March 23, 2005 at 12:00 pm