Katie Goodale controlled the draw with time winding down in the third quarter. Emma Tyrrell darted toward the cage, juked her defender, and fired a low sweeping shot past Duke's goalkeeper with eight seconds to play, capping off seven straight goals for the Orange.
No. 2 Syracuse women's lacrosse (9-0, 4-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) elevated its game to start the second half in a 16-10 win over No. 15 Duke (4-5, 0-4 ACC). After the Blue Devils tied the score at six to start the third quarter, the Orange responded with seven unanswered goals, which extended into the fourth. SU put 23 of its 26 shots on net and extended its program-best opening winning streak to nine games.
Thanks to a new face at the draw, Syracuse capitalized on the game's first possession. Olivia Adamson bested Duke's Maddie Jenner for the opening draw, then Meaghan Tyrrell found Megan Carney, who struck the back of the net less than a minute in. Duke quickly responded by working passes around the cage, leading to an equalizing score from Caroline DeBellis.
Both squads continued to deliver blows back and forth throughout the first half. Carney put the Orange back in front with her second goal, a perfectly placed shot to the bottom right of the cage. The lead didn't last long, as Blue Devils' Lexi Schmalz converted on a free position. Carney's third goal 10 minutes in gave SU another advantage, but Maddie McCorkle scored less than a minute later to tie things up 3-3. In the final moments of the first quarter, a free position shot from Katie DeSimone went wide, keeping the game tied after 15 minutes.
Sierra Cockerille took over on the first possession of the second quarter. After winning the draw, the graduate student dodged past a defender and unleashed a shot past Duke's goalkeeper Shaye Fitzpatrick. A few minutes later, Schmalz was awarded another free position. Orange goalkeeper Delaney Sweitzer made the save, but Carly Bernstein scored to tie the game at four soon after. Cockerille responded by spinning around a defender and ripping a bouncer past Fitzpatrick, giving SU a 5-4 lead.
Syracuse took advantage after a yellow card was issued to Duke's Maddie Johnston. With four minutes left in the second, Emma Ward stood behind the cage and found a wide-open Meaghan Tyrrell, who scored her first goal of the afternoon. However, the Orange's lead was cut back to one on a goal from Jenner with seven seconds left in the second quarter.
But it was the Blue Devils who initially started the second half strong. After winning the opening draw, Katie DeSimone trickled a shot past Sweitzer to tie things up at six less than a minute into the third quarter. Carney ran around the cage and fired a shot to the left of the cage three minutes later, her fourth goal of the afternoon. Soon after, Natalie Smith flicked a shot across her body and scored. Then, Ward charged at Fitzpatrick and went top shelf to give SU a three-goal advantage, its largest of the game to that point.
The Blue Devils had a chance to score after a green card on Goodale, but Bianca Chevarie forced a turnover. On the other end, Adamson scored unassisted to put the Orange up by four. Sophia LeRose replaced Fitzpatrick in the cage for Duke, and Emma Tyrrell immediately greeted her with a bouncer that struck twine. The two Emmas would each score again in the final minute of the third, highlighting seven straight goals to put SU up 13-6 going into the fourth.
Fancy footwork from @emmatyrrell17 pic.twitter.com/GqtNlugIvV
— Syracuse Women's Lacrosse (@CuseWLAX) March 18, 2023
Syracuse kept its foot on the gas to start the final quarter. Emma Tyrrell notched her third goal while getting fouled with 13 minutes to play, her fifth hat trick in nine games this season. Then, Megan Carney tied her season-high on her fifth goal of the afternoon, a shot to the bottom left of the net. Ward would tally her first hat trick of the season on her third goal with four minutes left.
No. 2 Syracuse women's lacrosse returns to the JMA Wireless Dome on Wednesday night against Stony Brook. The Orange will be vying for their first 10-0 start to a season in program history. Opening draw is set for 8:00 p.m.