The Daily Orange has worked to keep you covered on all the biggest news in Syracuse sports this year, from a major college football upset to an Atlantic Coast Conference record set on the hardwood.

As the school year comes to a close, here’s our list of the five most newsworthy Syracuse sports stories of the 2017-18 academic year.

Todd Michalek | Staff Photographer

Oct. 13, 2017- Syracuse defeated then-No. 2 Clemson 27-24 inside the Carrier Dome for SU’s biggest upset since 1984. The Orange entered the game 24-point underdogs but stifled the defending national champions offense, holding the Tigers to just more than 200 yards passing. In front of 42,475 fans, SU’s largest crowd of the season, Orange head coach Dino Babers’ offense totaled 440 yards of offense and three touchdowns. In the game’s final frame, a Clemson fake punt ended its last possession while Eric Dungey extended SU’s final drive with a quarterback run.

Paul Schlesinger | Staff Photographer

Nov. 18, 2017-  Justyn Knight, after coming up short for three consecutive years, finally captured an elusive National Championship in Louisville, Kentucky. It was the first accolade in a decorated season for the best runner in SU history.

Codie Yan | Staff Photographer

Feb. 25, 2018- Tiana Mangakahia dished to Miranda Drummond for a 3 on the game’s first possession to set the ACC single-season assist record. Mangakahia hadn’t played collegiate basketball after sitting out two years at a community college. But the point guard from Australia took the country by storm in her first season at Syracuse. She tallied double-digit assists in her first eight games for SU. She picked up 14 double-doubles of points and assists on the season. She dropped 44 points against Georgia Tech on Jan. 4, and by the end of the season, she had 304 assists.

Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer

March 14-23, 2018-  After edging its way into the NCAA Tournament field, Syracuse beat Arizona State and TCU to advance to the Round of 32 and a date with Michigan State. Despite being the underdog in the matchup, the Orange narrowly bested the Spartans to keep their improbable run alive a year after missing the field altogether the year before. SU lost in the Sweet 16 to Duke.

Hieu Nguyen | Staff Photographer

April 1, 2018-  Syracuse upset then-No. 3 Georgia Tech, 4-3. SU picked up the doubles point with a dominant, 6-2 win by Gabriela Knutson and Miranda Ramirez over the No. 1 doubles pair in the nation. Then, with Syracuse at three points and needing one to clinch, Knutson crushed an ace right down the middle of the court and past No. 22 Paige Hourigan. It was the biggest win, by ranking, in program history.

Published on May 11, 2018 at 3:17 pm