Senior goalie Jake Myers and Red defenders look on in horror as Syracuse's Cody Jamieson finds the back of the net for the game-winning goal to hand the Orange the national championship and end the Red's 2009 season.

When freshman midfielder Roy Lang scored to put the men's lacrosse team up 9-6 with 5:37 left in the NCAA finals, it seemed like things were going too smoothly against defending national champion Orange. It had been a close, hard-fought game, but the Red was getting all the breaks — Syracuse attackman Stephen Keogh's goal in the fourth quarter was waved off because of a nearly imperceptible crease violation, Cornell was drawing penalties to keep possessions going and the team's senior goalie Jake Myers was at the top of his game, holding Orange attackmen Kenny Nims and Keogh to just one score in four shots on goal.

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Cornell had the lead from beginning to end until Syracuse senior attackman Kenny Nims scored at the end of a circus play with four seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game at 9. The Red was attempting a clear but the Syracuse ride forced the turnover and several looping passes later, Nims fired a low shot past Cornell senior goalie Jake Myers from point-blank range to force overtime.

Cornell won the face-off in overtime but a quick turnover led to a goal by Syracuse's Cody Jamieson, who was academically ineligible for most of the season but made a huge impact in his few games with the team. Jamieson's goal handed Syracuse the 10-9 overtime win.

The men’s lacrosse team’s 2009 season came full circle when it upset top seed Virginia for a chance to play in the national championship game against No. 2 seed Syracuse. The Red shocked the Cavaliers, 15-6, by playing intelligent team defense and, above all, controlling possession and showing discipline on offense. Those talents, however, weren’t always in the 2009 team’s repertoire — they appeared out of necessity after the Red’s 15-10 loss to the same Orange squad that will take the field on Monday looking for its second consecutive (11th overall) national title.

Ivy League Rookie of the Year Rob Pannell must take advantage of Cornell's depth on offense to keep up with a loaded Syracuse team.

Senior Captain Max Seibald (42) fires a shot at University of Virginia goaltender Adam Ghitelman (8) during Cornell's 15-6 win in the NCAA men's lacrosse semifinals at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.

Senior Captain Max Seibald (42) fires a shot at University of Virginia goaltender Adam Ghitelman (8) during Cornell's 15-6 win in the NCAA men's lacrosse semifinals at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.