STONY BROOK, N.Y. – When Gabi Wiegand scored a free-position goal in the final seconds of overtime, the Florida sideline erupted in excitement over its apparent national championship berth. Syracuse’s sideline fell silent as the team’s national title hopes appeared to be over.

But Alyssa Murray wouldn’t let the game end like that. The attack ran up to an official and appealed for a stick check, the team’s last chance to keep its season alive.

Murray’s last-ditch effort paid off. The pocket of Wiegand’s stick was deemed too deep and therefore illegal. For the second time this season, the Orange and the Gators were going to double overtime.

‘I ran over to the ref a little crazed for the stick check,’ Murray said. ‘… Teams have done it to us. If it’s the winning goal, if there’s anything you can do to bring it back. We were fighting for our life and it was something you have to do.’

Less than a minute into the sudden death second overtime, senior midfielder Sarah Holden bounced a shot past Mikey Meagher to send No. 4 SU (19-3) to the national championship game with a 14-13 double overtime victory over top-seeded UF (19-3) at LaValle Stadium.

Syracuse will face No. 2 Northwestern on Sunday at 8 p.m. for the national title. The Orange will be looking for revenge after it fell to the Wildcats 11-9 in overtime during the regular season.

Holden also scored a goal with just 30 seconds remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime and extend her career and the Orange’s season for at least six minutes.

‘It was an emotional roller coaster out on the field,’ Holden said. ‘Down by seven, potentially your last game and being able to pull it out, it’s such an amazing feeling. I’m so proud of my team.’

The midfielder’s goal at the end of regulation capped SU’s 8-1 run to end the second half and the most improbable of comebacks for Syracuse.

With less than 18 minutes remaining in regulation, the Orange trailed 12-5. The most successful season in program history appeared to be nearing its end.

But in the final 11:38 of regulation, Syracuse scored eight of the final nine goals in regulation, including hat tricks by both Murray and Holden in the final 6:28 to force overtime.

For the first 53 minutes of the game, the Gators held Murray in check. Florida’s swarming defense closed the holes Syracuse’s leading goal scorer normally bursts through to score.

With less than 22 minutes remaining, Murray scored what looked to be a surefire goal. But after a few moments of confusion and both coaches jawing with the officials, the goal was waved off and the ball was awarded to the Gators

But after that play, Murray’s game completely turned around. She scored three goals and added an assist in the following 20 minutes, and when UF had a chance to run out the clock as Meagher walked the ball up the field, the attack pressured the goaltender and forced her to launch the ball out of bounds.

The turnover was a rare miscue in a nearly flawless game for the goaltender. The junior made 10 saves in the first half to stymie Syracuse’s offense.

‘She literally kept us in the game after a few doorstep saves,’ Florida coach Amanda O’Leary said. ‘She made a huge save for us from her knees as well. Mikey played a tremendous game, and was a shining star over 60 minutes.’

The Orange has had a flair for dramatic finishes in recent weeks. Last weekend in the NCAA quarterfinals, SU scored twice in the final 39 seconds to beat No. 5 North Carolina 17-16 in the Carrier Dome and advance to the final four.

That game had been regarded as the greatest game in program history. Until Friday.

Even for Syracuse head coach Gary Gait, these recent weeks have ranked among the most exciting in the lifetime he has spent in the sport.

Of course a win on Sunday, no matter how ordinary, could top them all.

‘This is one of the all-time greats and it brings me back to the glory days at Syracuse,’ Gait said. ‘This is just incredible what this group has been able to do, especially in the past two games. They can enjoy this for the next two minutes, then on to the next song.’

dbwilson@syr.edu