VILLANOVA, Pa. — Every time Thomas Croonquist settled in at the faceoff X, the result seemed predetermined. No matter what Syracuse countered with — the experience of faceoff staple Chris Daddio, the talent of freshman Brendan Conroy, or the brute strength of All-American defender Brian Megill — the result was always the same.

The Villanova faceoff man pushed the ball backward to himself. He knocked it sideways to his wings. Even when Syracuse’s myriad of backup plans pushed the ball back to their side of the field, Croonquist simply climbed over top to come away another faceoff win.

“We just didn’t have an answer for him,” SU head coach John Desko said. “I thought we had a couple opportunities that Conroy had, but he was just a little quicker to get to the ball.”

Croonquist won an astonishing 22-of-24 faceoff attempts—and all 13 in the second half—embarrassing the Orange at the X and igniting celebration after celebration from the 2,547 that witnessed Croonquist’s remarkable feat. It meant an incredible dearth of possession time for Syracuse (5-2, 2-1 Big East) as the Wildcats (2-5, 1-0) stunned the No. 4 Orange 11-10 at Villanova Stadium.

A 3-0 run in the second quarter seemed poised to send SU into the half in control. But Croonquist rebounded from one of Daddio’s few faceoff wins – he won just 2-of-14 – with a victory of his own leading to a quick VU goal. Another win led to another Wildcat goal, this time with just 17 seconds remaining in the half to cut the lead to one.

“He got an early start and he’s a good faceoff kid, but his wings were amazing. We were having trouble with our wings getting help,” Daddio said. “The one’s that I did win in the first half I felt like I popped the ball up, and turned around and we were just getting beat to the ball. We’ve just got a lot of work.”

Daddio and Croonquist stepped up to the faceoff X once again and for the third time on the day Syracuse’s faceoff man was whistled for a violation. This time a delay of game penalty came with it.

“We’re kind of back to where we were last year with this game of faceoffs,” Daddio said, “and I know everyone’s getting frustrated with not having as many possessions as we usually have.”

SU changed it up and Conroy took the first draw of the second half. He nearly exhibited immediate success after jamming Croonquist and popping the ball backward. But Croonquist was quicker to the ball and Villanova was back on the attack.

Conroy finished the day 0-for-8.

“You try not to get discouraged because we’re a team, and we’re going to back everyone up no matter what happens,” said Megill, who lost both faceoffs he attempted, “but just seeing him come out the front all the time, it kind of gets frustrating after a while.”

The Wildcats methodically built their comeback riding the coattails of Croonquist’s success at the X.

With VU down three once again in the third quarter, Croonquist won another faceoff. Villanova midfielder Jimmy Wyatt drew a crosscheck penalty and Villanova capitalized with a goal. Less than a minute later, SU’s lead was cut one after another Croonquist win and Tim Mulrenan goal.

Despite the struggles at the X, Syracuse still maintained a lead late into the fourth quarter, but when Derek Maltz was denied on the doorstep with less than four minutes remaining, the Wildcats had life. Jack Rice scored on the other end with 2:51 remaining to knot the game at 10.

Again standing at the X, Croonquist appeared unbeatable. VU had stormed back from a pair of three-goal deficits and was on the verge of pulling the upset. Though a faceoff was still to be taken, the result was predetermined.

Croonquist won another draw and floated a pass downfield to Mulrenan standing alone along the crease. Mulrenan turned and fired from close range. There was nothing Dominic Lamolinara could do. Too often Syracuse was on its heels and too often Lamolinara was peppered with shots.

Fittingly, Croonquist helped deliver the fatal blow.

“He’s good at what he did,” Daddio said. “He got the best of me and the best of all of us. He had a good night.”

Published on March 23, 2013 at 9:00 pm

Contact David: dbwilson@syr.edu | @DBWilson2