After a 3-0 start to its 2025 season, number four Syracuse women’s lacrosse (3-1, 0-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) began its top-five gauntlet with a matchup against number two North Carolina (4-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference). In their ACC opener, the Orange were dismantled by the Tar Heels 16-8. SU faces another daunting opponent in third-ranked Northwestern (4-1, 0-0 Big Ten) on Tuesday.
One of the biggest reasons for Syracuse’s lackluster performance against UNC was the absence of attacker Olivia Adamson. Without the senior, the Orange suffered two scoreless droughts of 15 or more minutes, and posted single digit goals for just the eighth time in head coach Kayla Treanor’s four-year tenure. Adamson’s main complement in the attack, grad student Emma Ward, also struggled against the Tar Heels. The attacker’s four points were a season-low.
SU can’t afford any scoring struggles against Northwestern. The Wildcats average more than 17 goals per game, a mark that only ranks behind its lone loss of its season, number one Boston College, for the most in the entire country. Leading the charge on offense is attacker Madison Taylor. The junior leads the nation with 35 points and 26 goals through just five games. Most recently against 25th-ranked Colorado, Taylor tallied six scores and an assist.
But perhaps the most intriguing part about Northwestern’s matchup with Syracuse this year is the return of goalie Delaney Sweitzer to the 315. The grad student racked up 343 saves to go with a 34-9 record during her time with the Orange. This season with the Wildcats, Sweitzer has split time in goal with senior Cara Nugent and redshirt sophomore Francesca Argententiri. Together, the trio has allowed just 10 goals across Northwestern’s last two games.
The ‘Cuse aim to rebound against the Wildcats Tuesday at 3:30, follow @WAERSports on Twitter for updates throughout the afternoon.