As Kate Mashewske approached the draw circle to start the second half, the Syracuse women’s lacrosse team looked motivated. The Orange needed an energy boost after a slow start to the game. In the first half, Pittsburgh won double the draw controls and forced nine turnovers. Going into the half against the Panthers (6-6), Syracuse (9-2) was only up by three goals, 7-4.
“We were really timid and we weren’t in a flow,” head coach Kayla Treanor said of the first half. But that flow, that rhythm, started immediately as the third quarter began. Mashewske won the draw and took the ball down the field herself before finding the back of the net.
The Syracuse bench exploded and her teammates on the field surrounded Mashewske to celebrate. Not only was the goal a strong way to start the half, but it was also the first goal of Mashewske’s three-year career.
“We’ve been telling Kate this, every time we take shots in practice, you’re going to score in a game. It’s going to happen. We can feel it. And today, it finally showed up,” teammate Meaghan Tyrrell said in the post-game press conference.
Tyrrell credited the goal as the momentum shift that propelled the Orange on a seven to one scoring run in the third. Syracuse would ultimately outscore Pittsburgh 16 to two after the first quarter of the game. But coach Treanor was focussed on what Mashewske did after her first career goal went in.
“I think what made that moment so great is that Kate came back and won the next draw control to herself. And that is really what an elite player can do, have this big moment and stay focused.”
But Mashewske isn’t the only elite player wearing orange. With her assist on the first goal of the game, Emilly Hawryschuk became just the fifth Syracuse women’s lacrosse player to earn 300 career points. And with her four goals on the day, Hawryschuk moves ever closer to top of the elusive all-time leading scorers list. Coach Treanor holds that record, with 260 career goals. Hawryschuk is only 15 goals away from tying the record that’s stood since 2016.
With her first assist of the game, Emily Hawryschuk becomes the fifth player in program history to record 300 career points. Congratulations @ejaneh0803‼️ pic.twitter.com/3dZn53QfvB
— Syracuse Women's Lacrosse (@CuseWLAX) April 2, 2022
Hawryschuk will have a chance to chip away at that record next week, when Syracuse faces the number one ranked North Carolina Tarheels (12-0). UNC is the last remaining undefeated team in Division I lacrosse, and coach Treanor’s excited for the biggest match up of the season.
“I think the opportunity to play Carolina at home is part of the reason these girls picked to come to Syracuse. You know, you get to play all the top teams in the country, you know, and it's just a great opportunity. I feel really confident and very excited to play them on Saturday here.”
The top-ten ranked matchup is Syracuse’s fifth of the season. The Orange (10-2) have gone 4-1 so far against top-ranked teams and are undefeated in ACC play (5-0). The game is set to begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 9 in the Carrier Dome.