No. 2 Syracuse Completes Historic Start With 9-7 Victory Over No. 9 Loyola
Adam Avin | @_adamavin
CitrusTV Women’s Lacrosse Beat Reporter
BALTIMORE, MD – Playing from behind is not something Syracuse WLAX is used to. After their first scoreless quarter of the season, the Orange entered the 4th period down 7-6, something they haven’t experienced since Game One. Lacrosse fans know the sport is widely considered “a game of runs,” and with 12:33 left in the game ‘Cuse sparked a run of three straight goals and put the game away; Sierra Cockerille tied it up, Meaghan Tyrrell took the lead, and Megan Carney sent Loyola-Maryland home, 9-7. This win, regardless of the struggles Syracuse had, was historic; the team set the program record for the best season start at 8-0 and sent happened to send home a Top-10 team in the process.
Sometimes a win with some adversity makes it that much more rewarding. The offense struggled but still played to its strengths in the first half with 6 different players scoring each goal. The Orange hadn’t scored less than 15 points in a game yet this year, they also put up their least amount of shots (24), shots on goal (16), and assists (1) today. Syracuse also played its first game without senior draw specialist Kate Mashewske, and it showed in the stat sheet. Loyola outdueled ‘Cuse in that category 14-5, and won every single draw in the rough third quarter. SU went into the half up six to three, and that’s when the Greyhounds went on their run. Kate Mashewske (pre-injury) ranked 2nd in the country in Draw Controls (total and per game), and her teammates sure could’ve used her help today.
This was Syracuse’s 4th Top-15 win and 3rd Top-10 win of the season, but as Kayla Treanor stresses after every game, this will be one her team will have to learn from. The ‘Cuse still has a tough road ahead, with five ranked opponents remaining on the schedule. They take on No. 15 Duke this Saturday in Durham, NC, and return to the JMA Wireless Dome on Wednesday, March 22nd for a Top-5 matchup with No. 5 Stony Brook, where they look to extend their win streak to 9-0.
