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GREATEST HISTORIC MOMENTS

Air Gait Goal

In 1988, Syracuse played Pennsylvania in an NCAA men’s Division I semifinal. The Orangemen were led by superstar sophomore attackman Gary Gait, and in this game, he showed why he was one of the best in the sport.

Trailing 2-1 in the second quarter, Gait had possession of the ball behind the Penn net. The goalie watched him over his shoulder, waiting for Gait to pass the ball out front or to try and come around the side of the net. Instead, Gait ran straight at the back of the net, planted his left foot just outside the crease line and leapt in the air toward the net. He reached over the crossbar and stuffed the ball in behind the stunned goalie, who had never seen anything like the “Air Gait.” Gait scored another of his record nine goals by using the move a second time in that game, which Syracuse won 11-10. The move was eventually outlawed in NCAA competition.

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