On this day 15 years ago, Liam Banks ’98 had a game for the ages to lead Syracuse University to its sixth National Championship.

After ‘Cuse drew first blood at the 8:15 mark of the first quarter, Banks scored the next two goals to give the Orange an early 3-0 advantage. Syracuse’s lead would mushroom to 7-1 in the second quarter when Ryan Powell found an open Banks who buried his third goal of the game. Princeton closed the half with two unassisted goals to crawl within 7-3 at the break.

Whatever momentum the Tigers accrued going into the half was quickly snuffed out when Mike Springer drew a double-team and found an open Banks on the crease who scored his fourth goal to give ‘Cuse an 8-3 edge. On the ensuing possession, Banks again found himself uncovered on the crease, took a pass from Tom Hardy, and after seven fakes buried the ball in the top right corner. Banks would score his sixth goal of the day when he dodged from the behind the cage and tucked the ball past the goalie before his defender could recover, giving the Orange an insurmountable 11-5 lead. Banks would add an assist in the fourth quarter to finish with 7 points as ‘Cuse would go on to take the title, 13-7.

Banks, whose six goals was the most in a Championship game since 1981, was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. The former Bear was second on the team in points during the 2000 campaign with 66 (39 goals/ 27 assists) and was named an Honorable Mention All-American.

The win continued an amazing run during which four consecutive National Champions had a Bear on the roster: Jake Kenney for Princeton in 1997 and 1998 and Derek Kenney for Virginia in 1999.

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