Brattons Hit Stride, U-Va. Stops Syracuse in Sudden Death at Face-Off Classic

BALTIMORE, March 1 -- The positive feel Virginia got from its 14-13 overtime victory over Syracuse in lacrosse on Saturday in Baltimore may be felt for another four years.

Sophomore Brian Carroll scored the winning goal with 1 minute 29 seconds left in sudden-death overtime. But the goal was set up by freshman midfielder Shamel Bratton, and it may prove to be a crucial moment his career, as well as that of his twin brother, Rhamel.

The game was the first in a doubleheader at the Face-Off Classic at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. In the second game, Johns Hopkins scored the first eight goals and defeated Princeton, 14-9.

The doubleheader featured the four teams that have combined to win every national title since 1991; it drew 19,165.

All four teams entered undefeated, but it had not been a particularly good start for the Bratton twins. They entered Saturday with a combined three goals and one assist after having combined for two goals in the preseason.

On Saturday, they were replaced in the starting lineup by fifth-year senior Peter Lamade and senior Jack Riley. Initially, they also were not on the second midfield, nor the third.

They did not enter the game until there was 9 minutes 40 seconds left in the first half. Yet they had an immediate impact: Rhamel Bratton scored, on an assist from his brother, 27 seconds after they took the field. That goal tied the game at 3.

And the Brattons were on the field again when Virginia took a 4-3 lead on a goal by junior Danny Glading on the next possession.

Despite the Brattons' early struggles this season, they clearly had Syracuse's attention. The Orange's defensive game plan was to double-team them; that included the first possession of overtime. Shamel Bratton passed the ball just as the second defender arrived; it was a cross-field pass to Carroll, who was wide open. Carroll made the eight-yard shot for the winning goal.

That goal gave Virginia a 281-280 scoring advantage in the series dating from 1995.

"The backside had been open all day," Carroll said. "He made a great look across and luckily it went in."

Said Virginia Coach Dom Starsia: "We have a mantra that there are no big games. It's only March 1st, for goodness sake. But beating Syracuse, I don't care what the setting is, we could play them in a back alley someplace, it's a meaningful moment."