Turri Leads Duke Over Syracuse

Justin Turri had three goals and two assists to lead the Duke Blue Devils to a 12-9 win over Syracuse on Saturday in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Playoffs.

The West Islip native scored two of the game’s first three goals and would later net the hat trick with 4:23 remaining in the third to give Duke a 10-6 lead. He would also assist on two of the three goals scored by teammate Christian Walsh.

“We talk a lot about playing for one more week,” Turri said in a press release from Duke University. “As a fifth-year senior this could be my last week of playing Duke lacrosse.”

With 22 career points (13G, 9A) in NCAA Tournament play, Turri moves into seventh place on Duke's all-time post-season scoring list passing Brad Ross, who had 21 points. He also moves into fifth place on Duke's all-time post-season assists list and into a tied for ninth place on the school's career NCAA chart for goals. 

Also, one more assist this year for Turri will make him only the fourth player in Duke history to reach double figures in both goals and assists in NCAA tournament action, joining Matt Danowski, Zack Greer and Ned Crotty.

With the win over Syracuse, Duke heads to Philadelphia next Sunday to face Colgate. The Raiders upset sixth-seeded Massachusetts 13-11 on Saturday. In that game, Freshman Connor Braddish of West Islip scored in the third quarter to give Colgate a 9-6 lead.

While Turri and his Duke teammates are now turning their attention to next week’s quarterfinal matchup with the Raiders, he is also enjoying his time chasing another national title.

“To come out every day in practice and put on the pads and come out one more time next weekend in Philly, that’s just what’s driving me and the seniors,” he said.