Brian Nee and Alex Zink scored four goals each and Michael Powell added three goals and three assists as No. 4 and host Syracuse toppled No. 20 Albany, 21-13, in the first round of the NCAA Division I tournament yesterday at the Carrier Dome. The victory moved the Orange a step closer to its 22nd consecutive final four.
Eleven players scored for the Orange (12-2), which totaled its third-highest playoff output in history and largest since 1992.
Albany (10-6) led 2-1 early in the first half and kept it close, scoring three unanswered goals to pull within 6-5 with 46 seconds left in the half. Merrick Thomson scored three of his game-high six goals in the first half and the Great Danes trailed 7-5 at intermission.
