It’s happening way too often and it’s starting to become disconcerting to Syracuse men’s lacrosse coach John Desko. A team that for years has relied on a high-scoring offense, setup to simply outgun the opponent, has suddenly become overreliant on its goalie, Jay Pfeifer.

It’s not that Pfeifer isn’t up to the task. A senior who’s won two national titles and played in three final fours, Pfeifer is more than adept to handle the pressure. Still, though, Desko doesn’t want the game to continuously come down to Pfeifer making a big save.

That’s exactly what happened Saturday against Brown at the Carrier Dome. Pfeifer made 12 saves in SU’s 9-8 victory. The performance came following one of the best of Pfeifer’s career Tuesday at Hobart, when he made a career-high 21 saves in a 13-12 Syracuse victory.

‘I don’t want to say you expect it,’ defenseman Steve Panarelli said of Pfeifer bailing Syracuse out. ‘I don’t want to expect it, but after a while you do.’

Against Hobart, Pfeifer’s two biggest saves came in the game’s final minutes, saving the Orange from defeat. On Saturday, though, Pfeifer’s best moments came in the third quarter.

Twice in a one minute span, Pfeifer brilliantly turned away point-blank shots. The second save came on Chazz Woodson – easily the Bears’ top attack and possibly one of the best in the nation.

SU turned the ball over with about 10:30 remaining in the third quarter. The ensuing break led to Woodson charging toward Pfeifer with no defender in between the two.

Pfeifer made the save on a high shot, deflecting it away. Woodson said he didn’t put the ball away. Pfeifer didn’t give him a chance.

‘He’s running across the cage and didn’t have the option of going low,’ Pfeifer said. ‘It just happened.’

Early in the season, Pfeifer – considered by many to be an All-America candidate – struggled at times, especially when facing high shots.

When asked after the game if anything accounted for his recent strong play, Pfeifer joked he’s been getting more sleep lately.

‘At the beginning of the year, I was working at an internship so maybe that tired me out,’ Pfeifer said.

Brown returns

Former Syracuse football and lacrosse star Jim Brown returned to Syracuse this weekend and attended SU’s game against Brown on Saturday. Brown said it was the first SU lacrosse game he’d seen live in about 20 years.

Two anonymous Syracuse alumni donated money for two scholarships in Brown’s name. The scholarships will be given annually to one football player and one lacrosse player. Brown played football for the Orange from 1954-56 and lacrosse from 1955-57.

Brown is widely considered one of Syracuse’s best football and lacrosse players of all-time.

At halftime of the SU-Brown game, Syracuse Director of Athletics Daryl Gross presented Brown with a lacrosse stick customized by Desko. He entered and left the field to a series of rousing ovations.

‘I don’t look at it as being honored,’ Brown said. ‘I look at it as a scholarship to honor others.’

This and that

After struggling on face-offs for much of the year, the Orange showed improvement, winning 12 of 20. SU won 5-of-6 in the final quarter. … Syracuse finished 4-for-7 on the man-up. … Daily Orange staff writer John Infanti sang a booming rendition of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ prior to the game.

Published on April 2, 2005 at 12:00 pm