No. 5 Syracuse Women’s Lacrosse extends win streak to eight after close battle with UAlbany

In the matchup between No. 5 Syracuse Women’s Lacrosse (8-3, 4-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) and UAlbany (7-3, 2-0 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference), there was quite a bit on the line for each party. A loss for the Orange would have snapped a seven-game win streak. A loss for the Great Danes would give them their first home game this season without a win. Luckily for the ‘Cuse, Albany fell 10-8 at home.

Spearheading for Syracuse were midfielders Caroline Trinkaus and Emma Muchnik, who logged three goals a piece. Trinkaus got the Orange on the board early, and then once more at the end of the first frame. The hat trick came in the second quarter. As for Muchnik, most of her contribution came in the second half.

The Great Danes didn’t go down without a fight. If the Orange wouldn’t have had the first quarter surge that they did, it would have most likely been a tie ball game. After the first frame, UAlbany led in ground balls, draw controls, and free position shots. SU was getting close to losing its first game to UAlbany in program history.

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“We made a few shots. We have still got to shoot the ball better… but we’re fortunate to have gotten the goals we did tonight. We needed every one of them,” Syracuse head coach Regy Thorpe said.

The ‘Cuse and Albany are familiar foes. Tuesday’s matchup marked the 19th game against the programs, dating all the way back to 1998. The Great Danes head coach, Katie Thomson, was a former Orange player. When Thomson was on the field herself in 2008, she led the nation in scoring and ended her Syracuse career with 396 points. The midfielder helped lead SU to the final four and was a four-time All-BIG EAST First-Team honoree. Thomson’s skill on the turf and on the sidelines is what helped the Great Danes stay in the game, and Regy Thorpe thinks the ‘Cuse was caught slacking.

“I thought we were a little complacent tonight. You got to show up. This year it's a week-to-week league and day-to-day, I think anyone can beat anyone. I think we can beat any team in the country, but I also think we can lose to any team in the country,” Thorpe said.

Unranked UAlbany held its own against the fifth ranked ‘Cuse, but the next matchup, SU takes on another ranked opponent. No. 24 Pitt is next in line, and Thorpe is sure about one thing: the Orange can’t have the same kind of performance they did in Albany if they plan on taking down the Panthers.

“Pittsburgh’s been playing really well…They’re a tough team that doesn’t quit and we get them home in the Dome, and that’s going to be huge for our position in the ACC tournament.”

The ACC play against Pittsburgh begins on Saturday, with a chance for Syracuse to extend its now eight game win streak. The opening draw is at 10 a.m. Follow @WAERSports on X for live updates during the game.