To dissolve the memory of a season-ending loss to Johns Hopkins 272 days ago, Dylan Donahue focused on what his new role in Syracuse’s offense would be.

Instead of being the finisher on acrobatic passes from Kevin Rice or Randy Staats, Donahue was the one slinging passes around the crease to a revamped Orange offense.

The senior attack spearheaded the offense with nine points in a season-opening, 18-5, No. 5 Syracuse (1-0) win against Siena (0-1). He gave the Orange its first goal of the season, firing a low shot as he danced around the crease and slithered past the long stick of Siena’s Jon-Michael Tokar.

The early goal was cushioned by three more in the opening quarter from transfers Nick Piroli and Nick Mariano, as well as first-line midfielder Sergio Salcido.

Donahue patrolled the offense primarily from the X position behind Siena’s net, and that’s where he dished a pass to Salcido over the heads of several Saints defenders. The 5-foot-5 midfielder swung a 10-yard shot past Siena goalkeeper Tommy Cordts and pumped both fists in the air to put SU out in front by three.

Minutes later Donahue found Jordan Evans weaving between Saints defenders. From the X position again, Donahue dished to the junior attack, who scored while Siena midfielder Michael Cox closed in. Cox looked up at the Carrier Dome ceiling in frustration while the Orange offense swarmed Evans in celebration.

While largely setting up the offense on Saturday afternoon, SU’s first 50-goal scorer in 24-years found the back of the net four times to pad his nine-point outing.

This time second-line midfielder Matt Lane assumed the X position behind Siena’s net. Donahue positioned himself just outside the left of Cordts’ crease, and angled his stick just above the ground to fire in the low feed from Lane.

Cordts raised his stick in anticipation of Donahue’s shot, but it was too late to prevent the SU lead from ballooning to 9-0 with three minutes left in the first half.

Donahue scored again 37 seconds later in one of his most coveted situations. He led the Orange with 15 extra-man goals last year, and bounced a shot past Cordts and the Saints’ defense in his first chance this season to extend the lead out, 10-0.

After finding Tim Barber standing on the edge of the crease for a quick stick goal, Donahue retreated with many of the Orange’s starters for the remainder of the second half.

Syracuse hardly let up its scoring pace, and dropped in eight more shots in the game’s final 30 minutes.

Published on February 13, 2016 at 3:12 pm

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