Michael Powell reiterated his plan yesterday like a NBA Slam Dunk Contest competitor vowing to ‘shock the world’ with his newest dunk.

This much we know. The Move – the one that Powell has presumably dreamed up in the backyard, the one that no one has ever seen before, the one that will amaze everyone – is coming.

He wanted to unveil it in Saturday’s 13-8 win over Loyola in the Carrier Dome, but he faced double – and sometimes triple-coverage.

‘I told my mom before the season I was going to do it when I was on the cover of the program,’ Powell said. ‘I broke that promise with her. I’m a little upset.’

Powell said that he’ll attempt it in a home game, giving him only two more chances – April 24, against Albany and May 1, against Massachusetts – to pull it off.

Meanwhile, his teammates are remaining mum about it. After Saturday’s game, attacker Brian Crockett quickly deflected a question about it to defender Steve Panarelli, who let the issue die.

So Powell, who earlier this season said he was equal parts entertainer and attackman, will only have two more chances to perform.

‘My move isn’t a move I can do with two or three guys on me,’ Powell said of the relentless Loyola defense. ‘We’re going to have to save that one.’

Homecoming hat trick

Maybe it’s the prospect of a home-cooked meal, or the familiarity of the Carrier Dome. Whatever the reason, Loyola senior Stephen Brundage owns Syracuse. The Camillus native scored three goals for the Greyhounds on Saturday.

But Brundage said he doesn’t need the motivation of playing in front of family to gear him up for a team like Syracuse.

‘This is just a big game no matter where it was,’ he said. ‘Obviously it’s exciting to come home and play in front of family and friends. I just think the fact that it was a big game for us and our program was enough excitement in itself.’

Brundage has now scored six goals against the Orangemen in three seasons.

Fellow Camillus native and Loyola midfielder Matt Cassalia notched an assist when he passed to Brundage midway through the third quarter, making it a successful day for the former West Genesee teammates.

‘We talked about the local guys always raising the level of their game against Syracuse,’ Syracuse coach John Desko said. ‘(Brundage) is a very smart player. He’s going to take advantage of any mistakes that you make. We expect that from all the Central New York guys.’

In the zone

The Orangemen have been using a zone defense more this season than in years past. Against Loyola, it worked, but only to a degree. Desko said that the zone was successful in that it forced Loyola to shoot from outside. But because SU was so concentrated near the crease, the Greyhounds picked up a lot of loose balls and were able to retain possession.

Dirrigl, who played for Syracuse from 1985 to 1988, said SU’s defense has improved markedly even from the beginning of the season.

‘They’re getting comfortable,’ Diriggl said. ‘They got three kids who haven’t played for Syracuse. With Syracuse’s schedule it takes time. They’re coming together very well.’

This and that

Senior Alex Zink injured what appeared to be his knee in the third quarter. After being helped off the sideline, he returned in the fourth quarter. … Loyola goalie Michael Fretwell was assessed a 30-second penalty for playing with another player’s stick after his goalie stick was knocked to the ground. … Despite losing the face-off advantage, 15-9, Syracuse still managed to outshoot the Greyhounds, 50-29. … Saturday’s attendance of 6,399 was the largest of the season.

Published on April 12, 2004 at 12:00 pm