Syracuse finished its fall schedule with a 13-7 exhibition win at Rutgers on Saturday, using faceoff dominance and a faster transition attack to create separation after a slow start.
key moments
- Final score: Syracuse 13, Rutgers 7.
- Faceoffs: John Mullen’s control at the stripe tilted possessions Syracuse’s way and helped fuel transition opportunities.
- Offensive standouts: Vermont transfer Tristan Whitaker recorded a hat trick. Tucker Kellogg scored twice in an attack role and Charlie Kraftson saw action at attack alongside Owen O’Farrell and others.
The scrimmage was tied 1-1 late in the first quarter, but Syracuse’s emphasis on pushing the ball out of the box and generating early offense produced the margin the Orange needed to pull away. Coach Gary Gait stressed the tempo in his postgame comments.
“We want to be faster. I think we're more athletic than we've been and we want to utilize that as much as we can.” — Gary Gait, Syracuse head coach
Syracuse’s attack staff shuffled roles as the program adjusts to losing its top four scorers to graduation. Owen O’Farrell handled the majority of the X attack reps against Rutgers, while Zac Amend — a transfer from Bryant — operated more often as a midfielder in this scrimmage. Amend’s vision and playmaking gave the Orange another ball‑handling option off the wing and in transition. Senior lefty Charlie Kraftson joined Kellogg and O’Farrell in attack rotations.
Whitaker’s three goals were the clearest statement from a transfer attempting to carve out a primary scoring role for spring. Kellogg, used as a point-man on fast breaks for his long-range shooting, scored twice. Several offensive middies also saw meaningful looks coming out of the box, including Payton Anderson, Wyatt Hottle, Tyler McCarthy, Matt McIntee, Harry Schniedwind, Ted Rawson and Nick Rayfield.
Defensively and in goal, Syracuse faced a Rutgers group that kept the score close early; the Scarlet Knights’ experienced defense and a hot goalie limited the Orange to just two late goals in the first quarter. Riley Figueiras matched up against Rutgers’ Colin Kurdyla in the opening quarter before sitting out the remainder of the game, and freshman Jayden James — a five-star recruit — drew extended minutes across the next three quarters.
rotations and roles
- Zac Amend: shifted from X quarterback duties to more midfield minutes in this scrimmage, showing versatility as a transfer addition.
- O’Farrell: predominately the X attack rep in the game against Rutgers.
- Specialists: Mullen’s faceoff work repeatedly swung possession to Syracuse, enabling the faster offense Gait described.
The game served as Syracuse’s final fallball opportunity to evaluate lineups and new personnel in game conditions. While exhibition results do not count toward the regular season standings, the scrimmage highlighted the Orange’s strategic focus on transition and athleticism as Syracuse prepares for the 2027 season.
No regular‑season opponent or date was announced in the game coverage for this exhibition; Syracuse’s staff used the matchup to test personnel and tempo rather than to produce an official standing change.
