Beat writers predict Syracuse-Navy matchup

No. 7 Syracuse (8-3, 2-2 Atlantic Coast) travels to Navy (5-6, 3-4 Patriot League) on Saturday for the first game at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium since 1982. SU is looking for its fourth-straight win in its regular-season finale.

Here’s what our beat writers predict what will happen.

Michael McCleary (8-3)
Seal the deal
Syracuse 13, Navy 8

I’m keeping the score close(r), but this is a win for Syracuse. The Orange have been rolling as of late and this probably won’t be the game where they slow down. SU seemingly outpaces Navy in every single statistical category and is playing some of the best lacrosse it’s played all season with a focus on patient, methodical play through the attack. The defense has been strong, the offense has been powerful and Syracuse has been a problem in its recent games. Expect that to continue Saturday, and the Orange end its regular season with a win.

Andrew Graham (7-4)
At ease
Syracuse 14, Navy 5

The Orange end the regular season with a steady, easy victory at the U.S. Naval Academy on Saturday. Now that I predict this, it will be a one-goal thriller like last year. But, Syracuse has more firepower than the Midshipmen can handle. With the 41st scoring defense in the country (11.55 goals per game), Navy seems prone to get swamped in the defensive end. The only hope is goalie Ryan Kern — 17th in save percentage (54.3) — gets hot. Still, the Midshipmen’s offense is no better off, scoring just over 10 goals a game. That’s not enough to cut it against a stingy Syracuse defense. The Orange get the win and can be at ease, knowing an NCAA tournament bid is in their grasp.

Nick Alvarez (6-5)
Above water
Syracuse 16, Navy 7

Hey, I’m above-.500! This one is pretty easy. Syracuse is on a roll heading into the postseason. This game is seemingly a tune-up. A loss would hurt the Orange’s RPI ranking, but a strong showing in the ACC tournament could secure a home game for the NCAA tourney. What I mean to say is, look for SU to ride the red-hot combo of Danny Varello and Jakob Phaup early, Nate Solomon and Bradley Voigt add to their season tallies and the defense holds another offense, this Midshipmen attack less-talented than Cornell’s and Hobart’s, to under 10 goals. In what I’m sure will be a fun venue for my beat partners to experience, the game should be a SU blowout.