No. 3 Syracuse (5-0) beat St. John’s (1-5) handily, 15-4, in the Carrier Dome on Saturday. Attacks Dylan Donahue and Jordan Evans and midfielder Nick Mariano each totaled four points.

Syracuse had won each of its last two games by just one goal each, but cruised to an easy victory against the Red Storm.

Here are three immediate reactions to Syracuse’s fifth-straight win to start the season.

Early and often

When Syracuse played St. John’s in Kennesaw, Georgia last season, the Red Storm held the Orange scoreless for the first 27:36 and jumped out to a 4-0 lead. That was not the case on Saturday.

Syracuse scored three goals in the first six minutes and three seconds and netted six goals in the first 13 minutes and six seconds. By the end of the first quarter, the Orange had racked up 19 shots and six goals, compared to just three shots and one goal for St. John’s.

Syracuse attack Tim Barber and Mariano scored two goals each in the first quarter.

Slow day

Syracuse goalie Warren Hill faced just 12 shots (five on goal), made two saves and conceded three goals during his three quarters of work against the Red Storm

At the first timeout, with 10 minutes already gone in the first quarter, Hill stood on the sideline away from the team huddle and faced practice shots from SU freshman attack Alex Orazietti.

Hill’s first save didn’t come until there was just 6:35 left in the second quarter. St. John’s attack Eric DeJohn took a shot falling away on the left side of the net and Hill picked it with his stick off the bounce.

With Syracuse controlling possession and the game, Hill spent most of his time stretching — arm circles, high knees, squats, etc. — in the crease as the Orange maneuvered on offense.

Redshirt junior goalie Evan Molloy replaced Hill to start the fourth quarter. He made one save and let up one goal.

Back on the ground

A week removed from being dominated, 43-29, in the groundball battle on Klockner Stadium’s grass field at Virginia, Syracuse returned to its usual ways and controlled groundballs, 37-19, against St. John’s.

Syracuse won 18-of-22 faceoffs with Ben Williams going 15-of-19 and backup Cal Paduda going 3-of-3. Against then-No. 17 UVA, SU won the faceoff battle, 18-for-29, but couldn’t gain an advantage on the groundballs.

Published on March 12, 2016 at 6:06 pm

Contact Jon: jrmettus@syr.edu | @jmettus