Mount Sinai native Joey Spallina added another unforgettable chapter to Syracuse men’s lacrosse history on Saturday afternoon, becoming the program’s all-time points leader as the No. 5 Orange defeated Colgate, 14-7, at the JMA Wireless Dome.
Spallina entered the game needing just two points to break the longstanding record held by Syracuse legend Mike Powell. He reached the milestone in the first quarter when he recorded an assist on a goal by Michael Leo, giving him 308 career points and moving past Powell’s previous mark of 307, which had stood since 2004.
By the end of the afternoon, Spallina had pushed the new record even higher. The star attackman finished with seven points on two goals and five assists, raising his career total to 313 points. It was a fitting performance for one of the most accomplished players in program history.
The moment was made even more special as it came in front of a home crowd of 6,498 fans during Senior Day, in what marked Spallina’s final regular-season appearance at the JMA Wireless Dome. Syracuse also honored 10 seniors and a student manager during the pregame ceremony, adding to the emotional atmosphere of the day.
Spallina, a Mount Sinai native and one of Long Island’s brightest lacrosse stars, has been a standout since arriving at Syracuse. Known for his vision, creativity, and scoring ability, he has consistently delivered in big moments while becoming one of the faces of college lacrosse.
While the spotlight shined on Spallina’s historic achievement, the Orange also delivered a strong team performance to close out the home schedule in style. Syracuse improved to 11-3 on the season with the convincing victory.
Michael Leo and Finn Thomson each had outstanding offensive performances, scoring four goals apiece while also adding assists for five-point afternoons. Their finishing ability helped Syracuse control the game throughout.
In goal, Jimmy McCool made 10 saves and helped anchor a defense that shut Colgate out in the fourth quarter. The Orange used that strong defensive finish to pull away and secure the seven-goal win.
For Syracuse fans, it was a day filled with celebration — a Senior Day victory, another strong performance from a top-five team, and a new all-time scoring leader.
For Joey Spallina, it was history made at home.