No. 2 Syracuse (4-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) dismantled Pittsburgh (2-2, 0-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) in a 16-4 blowout on Saturday. The Orange were running up and down the field as they extended their win streak to four games and opened conference play with a resounding win.
This marks the third game in a row that Syracuse won by five or more goals. SU hasn’t trailed since the 11:49 in the 2nd period against Northwestern in the first game of the season.
Meaghan Tyrrell took a backseat this game offensively but her presence was felt, her off-ball movement lured in the defense and gave other players opportunities. Her sister Emma was one of those players, scoring three goals on the day right behind Megan Carney’s four. Carney seems to have the permanent green light on the team with almost all her goals coming from the eight meter mark and beyond.
Ball movement was a focal point for the Orange as they collected nine assists during the game. Back-door cuts and great vision led to seven different players collecting assists, sophomore Olivia Adamson worked as a point guard for the offense as she set up teammates all day long. This led to 12 players scoring at least one point today, a total team effort for the Orange.
Draw control specialist Kate Mashewske was the star of the game for the Orange with her 10 draw controls throughout the game. Mashewske solidified her place as one the best at the draw in SU history as collected her 300th draw control of her career, she’s only the 2nd SU player to ever do this. She gave the Orange great positioning offensively and even added a goal and assist to her historic day.
Pitt was outmatched the entire game. SU’s Delaney Sweitzer only had five saves this game in large part because of the errant shooting from the Panthers. Shots in general were scarce for the Panthers, SU’s defense didn’t give them room to breathe as the team’s zone harassed Pitt the whole game.
Pitt goalie and former SU player Hannah Van Middelem had 13 saves as she tried her best to take a barrage of shots from her former team. The Orange ended up shooting 29 shots on goal, a tall task for any goalkeeper as her defense didn’t give her many breaks.
Syracuse will turn the page on a great win and continue this dominant run its built. It returns to the Empire State this Wednesday to take on UAlbany at home at 4 p.m.