BALTIMORE (AP) – Syracuse won its ninth NCAA lacrosse championship, getting five assists from Mike Powell and overcoming a gritty effort by Navy in a 14-13 victory Monday.

In a game that featured 10 ties and five lead changes, Syracuse (15-2) used a three-goal run late in the fourth quarter to go up 14-12. Ian Dingman scored for Navy with 40 seconds left, but the Orange held on to earn their third title in five years.

Brian Nee had three goals for Syracuse, which also won the title in 2000 and 2002.

Jon Birsner had two goals and three assists for Navy (15-3), playing in only its second title game and vying for its first NCAA lacrosse title. The second-seeded Midshipmen were the sentimental choice, especially on Memorial Day with the country at war, but the fourth-seeded Orange prevailed in part because of their experience in big games.

Paid attendance was 43,898, the largest crowd ever to watch the NCAA lacrosse championship game.

Down 10-8 early in the final quarter, Navy scored three straight goals to take its first lead since it was 5-4. But Sean Lindsay tied it with Syracuse on the man advantage with 8:58 remaining.

One minute later, Navy goalie Matt Russell left with a right shoulder injury, leaving freshman Colin Finnegan to man the net over the final eight minutes of the academy’s biggest game in 29 years.

Finnegan started a fast break that resulted in the go-ahead goal by Clipper Lennon, but Syracuse’s Brian Crockett scored from the left side to make it 12-all with 4:57 remaining.

Nee then scored for Syracuse off a pass from Powell, and Powell gave the Orange a two-goal advantage with his 47th goal with 60 seconds to play.

Powell, a senior, was voted the Most Outstanding Player in the tournament.

Powell’s third assist, on a goal by Steve Vallone, put the Orange ahead 8-7 early the third quarter. Birsner then tied it, but Syracuse used successive goals by Crockett and Alex Zink – the latter off a fine pass by Powell – to take a 10-8 lead into the final period.

The Midshipmen battled back, setting the stage for the exciting finish.

The first half was played on soggy artificial turf in a steady rain that became heavy at times, but the elements failed to significantly slow either team.

The Orange scored on seven of their initial eight shots on goal, and the opening 30 minutes featured six ties and ended 7-all.

After Midshipmen went up 1-0 on a 13-yard shot by Ben Bailey with less than two minutes elapsed, Crockett answered for the Orange with his 37th goal.

Powell got assists on Syracuse’s next two goals, but Navy’s Bill Looney tied it before Brett Bucktooth scored to put the Orange ahead 4-3. Navy’s Graham Gill then scored with 3 seconds left in the quarter.

The pattern continued early in the second period before Syracuse used a three-goal run – the last two by Nee – to go up 7-5.

Ian Dingman scored for Navy with 5:58 left in the half, then got an assist on a goal by Ben Horn with 41 seconds to go.

AP-ES-05-31-04 1711EDT