After a heartbreaking season in 2007, Syracuse became just the second team to claim the Division I Men’s Lacrosse Championship a year after missing the tournament completely, beating Johns Hopkins, 13-10. The game was played before an NCAA-record crowd of 48,970 fans at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts.

“We were extremely excited about the opportunity to be here today after last season,” Syracuse coach John Desko said. “To get these guys back into the playoff hunt, to make it to the (national semifinals), to have such a crazy Virginia game and to come out and be able to perform today like the guys did… You could sense it at halftime, they didn’t want to be denied.”

The Orange was the last team to accomplish that feat – winning the 1983 title a year after a disappointing season.

The 2008 team was led by junior Dan Hardy, who tallied three goals in the championship contest, and most outstanding player winner Mike Leveille, a senior attackman who earned a goal and two assists against Johns Hopkins, extending his point streak to 57 consecutive games.

The Orange defense was smothering – forcing 23 turnovers and allowing only one goal in five extra-man opportunities.

The game started off to the Blue Jays’ advantage, with Johns Hopkins closing out the first quarter with a 4-2 lead, padded by two goals from midfielder Paul Rabil. But Syracuse scored six of the next seven and held a 6-5 advantage at halftime.

The Orange kept the momentum in the second half, adding two scores in the opening minutes of the third frame, but the Blue Jays came firing back, scoring three of the next four and cutting Syracuse’s lead to one. The Orange regained a cushion just as the third period came to a close, and then built the margin to five goals with three unanswered scores – the final two less than 10 seconds apart.

Syracuse put the pressure on the Blue Jays in the fourth quarter, forcing consecutive turnovers. Johns Hopkins narrowed the lead to three in the final stanza, but Syracuse wouldn’t let the Jays get any closer.

Hardy said the doubters after last year’s disappointing season only inspired the team to work harder.

“We came back this year stronger than ever and worked hard in the offseason. We went through this whole season playing well and as a huge family,” he said. “It feels great to win one together.”

Johns Hopkins coach Dave Pietramala, whose team defeated top-ranked Duke to reach the national championship game, said he was proud of each of his players.

“We went through some pretty tough bumps in the road, and to rally back and get here, and to overcome a lot speaks volumes of this team,” he said. “The team that played better won the championship today. It’s as simple as that.”

Semifinals

Syracuse          2          1          3          5          0          1—12

Virginia           3          3          3          2          0          0—11

Syracuse scoring: Mike Leveille 5, Matt Abbott 3, Brendan Loftus 2, Kenny Nims , Greg Niewieroski.

Virginia scoring: Danny Glading 3, Garrett Billings 2, Brian Carroll, Peter Lamade, Rhamel Bratton, Will barrow, Shamel Bratton, Max Pomper.

Goalkeeper saves: Syracuse (John Galloway) 9, Virginia (Bud Petit) 16.

Johns Hopkins 1          3          3          3—10

Duke               2          0          3          4—9

Johns Hopkins scoring: Kevin Huntley 4, Steven Boyle 2, Paul Rabil, Brian Christopher, Michael Doneger, George Castle.

Duke scoring: Matt Danowski 2, Max Quinzani 2, Zack Greer, Brad Ross, Steve Schoeffel, Terrence Molinari, Nick O’Hara.

Goalkeeper saves: Johns Hopkins (Michael Gvozden) 17, Duke (Dan Loftus) 11.

Championship game

Syracuse                      2          4          4          3—13

Johns Hopkins             4          1          3          2—10

Syracuse scoring: Dan Hardy 3, Brendan Loftus 2, Kenny Nims 2, Stephen Keogh 2, Mike Leveille, Steven Brooks, Patrick Perritt, Danny Brennan.

Johns Hopkins scoring: Paul Rabil 6, Kevin Huntley 2, Steven Boyle 1, Kyle Wharton 1.

Goalkeeper saves: Syracuse (John Galloway) 7, Johns Hopkins (Michael Gvozden) 20.