Number four Syracuse Women’s Lacrosse (2-0, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) could not ask for a better start to a season. After handing UAlbany a double-digit loss in its season opener, SU passed its first major test of the season with flying colors, beating number nine Maryland 15-9 Saturday. Up next, Syracuse has another battle against Cornell (1-0, 0-0 Ivy League Conference) on Tuesday.
“It feels a little like final four weekend,” Orange Head Coach Kayla Treanor said. “You play a really good team, then you turn around and do the same thing in a couple of days. It will be a great test for us.”
SU’s offense has been firing on all cylinders to start the year. The Orange have scored 36 goals through just two games, and a lot of it comes from attacker Emma Ward. The All-ACC grad student already has six goals and six assists, and she was a part of the first five scores in the win over the Terrapins.
“She was ready to go right away,” Treanor said. “She’s a dangerous player if you don’t slide to her… We kept going to her, and she did a great job forcing them to face-guard her.”
Cornell stifled Jacksonville in its season-opening win on Saturday. The Big Red allowed just eight goals on 16 shots on net. However, goalkeeping was a question mark. Cornell started senior Ellie Horner, but she only played 23 minutes, allowing three goals with just two saves. Junior Mackenzie Clark played the rest of the game, finishing with six denials and allowing five shots past her.
However, the Big Red will not be tasked with stopping just Ward. SU had 11 different goal-scorers against UAlbany and seven against Maryland. Still, coach Treanor wants to see more from her team throughout the game.
“One of the things we have to work on is really putting together our offense for all four quarters,” Treanor said. “We had a really great start, but then in the fourth quarter, I don’t think we had a great quarter… We need to learn to play with a lead because it’s a skill.”
Syracuse and Cornell do battle on Tuesday at four. Follow @WAERSports on X for updates throughout the contest.