“It’s good that it happened in February. We have a lot to learn from it.” Kayla Treanor said. After the third-ranked Syracuse women’s lacrosse team lost in overtime to Northwestern earlier this week, Coach Kayla Treanor was looking towards the future. She said her team’s going to continue to face off against top-ranked talent throughout the season, especially the ACC. So, a loss early in the season gives her team something to work on.
This loss is Syracuse’s first of the season after starting 4-0. But that run wasn’t without some drama. The last three games for the Orange were decided by three goals total.
Meanwhile, the seventh-ranked Blue Devils come into the Carrier Dome undefeated after starting the season with six straight wins. Unlike the Orange, who’ve played against four Top 25 ranked teams in their first five games, this ACC matchup on Sunday is Duke’s first against a ranked opponent.
Working for the weekend 🥍 pic.twitter.com/HM6IJwYmvM
— Syracuse Women's Lacrosse (@CuseWLAX) March 4, 2022
The Blue Devils have found the back of the net at a league-leading rate. In their six games, Duke has won by an average of 15 goals. Duke leads the nation in total goals with 131 and attackers Catriona Barry and Katie DeSimone go one-two in the nation with total goals, with 41 and 33 respectively.
Syracuse junior Meaghan Tyrrell is on that top-ranking list as well, in 20th place with 23 goals this season. She and Syracuse graduate student Emily Hawryschuk, who netted six goals and added three assists in the Northwestern loss, will help lead the Orange’s offense on Sunday. They’ll need a strong showing against a fifth-ranked Duke defense that has only allowed an average of six points per game.
It sure is good to have 5️⃣1️⃣ @ejaneh0803 back on the field. 💪🍊🥍 pic.twitter.com/t74p7XeNgh
— Syracuse Women's Lacrosse (@CuseWLAX) March 5, 2022
Syracuse’s defense will need to slow down the high-flying Duke offense for the Orange to notch their second ACC win of the season. The game is set to draw at noon on Sunday in the Carrier Dome.