“Attacker U” has a new all-time goal leader as Syracuse women’s lacrosse defeats UAlbany

Before taking the lacrosse field at Victor High School, Emily Hawryschuk would watch Kayla Treanor's highlights on YouTube. Hawryschuk looked up to Treanor then, as she began her recruiting process and ultimately committed to Syracuse her sophomore year of high school. And Hawryschuk looks up to Treanor now.

“I spent so many years idolizing her, and I still idolize her. I’m very thankful that I can have her as a coach now.”

Since Hawryschuk began her career at Syracuse in 2017, she’s literally looked up Treanor’s name on the list of women’s lacrosse all-time leading goals. Treanor played for the Orange from 2013 to 2016 and held the record with 260 goals. That record stood for six years, until yesterday.

Going into the second quarter of the Syracuse game against UAlbany, the Orange had established a convincing lead. Behind goals from the likes of Olivia Adamson, Sam Swart, and Meaghan Tyrrell, the Orange were up big. The Great Danes’ Ava Poupard snuck a goal past Kimber Hower with one second left in the first to put her team on the board, but the Orange held a 7-1 lead.

But the second quarter was when the Orange, and Hawryschuk, got going. Syracuse opened the quarter with five unanswered goals, including back-to-back-to-back goals from Hawryschuk. In the span of that hat trick, she tied, then broke Treanor’s record. The Dome crowd cheered as her teammates surround Hawryschuk to celebrate the moment.

Coach Treanor was in on the celebration and knew early on that Hawryschuk would be special.

“I remember when she was being recruited here in high school and we all talked about how amazing her stick was. And she was going to come in once again and be the next-level attacker that Syracuse has always had,” Kayla Treanor said.

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The Orange never lost the lead against the Danes. With nine different goal scorers, including hat-tricks from Swart, Adamson, and Hawryschuk, the Orange offense cruised to a victory over UAlbany 18-11. Though not the best game defensively — the Orange were outscored 9 to 6 in the second half — Syracuse faithful could feel excited about the momentous occasion.

Across from Treanor in black UAlbany gear was Katie Rowan Thomson, an Orange legend in her own right. Rowan Thomson is Syracuse’s all-time leader in points and in February, became the first women’s lacrosse player to have her #21 jersey retired in the Dome.

Rowan Thomson’s #21 is what inspired Treanor to wear the same number during her time at Syracuse.

“I watched (Rowan Thomson) growing up…She was a big part of the reason I fell in love with the sport of lacrosse,” Treanor said.

So as Hawryschuk breaks the record held by her coach, who she once watched YouTube clips’ to hype her up before games, coach Treanor looks across the field at Rowan Thomson, the inspiration more than just Treanor’s jersey number. A full-circle moment for the attackers.

Treanor and Hawryschuk mused after the game about the next generation of Syracuse lacrosse goal scorers, what Treanor calls “Attacker U.”

“I hope (the next generation) comes here…that’s the goal. Inspiring that next generation of players. That’s what we want to do as a team, and hopefully, that’s the case,” Treanor said.

“If you can leave any legacy behind, forget the records, it would be to inspire others,” Hawryschuk said. “Looking up in the stands today, seeing all of the young girls, I think that’s part of the reasons you play.”

Another key reason the Orange play is for a chance to win a national championship. The team will have what defender Sarah Cooper called “a revenge game” this Friday in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts for the team’s final regular-season game against a familiar foe. The Orange will take on the defending champs Boston College — the last time these two teams met, coach Treanor was on BC’s sideline celebrating as the Orange went home on a loss in last year's national championship game. Opening draw is at 6 pm on Friday.