Despite winning by nine goals, the scoreboard still doesn’t reflect how lopsided No. 5 Syracuse women’s lacrosse’s (9-3, 5-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) performance truly was in its 16-7 win over No. 24 Pittsburgh (5-7, 2-6 Atlantic Coast Conference) on Saturday morning. The Orange dominated the Panthers for the first three quarters in the JMA Wireless Dome to earn their ninth straight victory and fifth consecutive ranked win.
It only took Syracuse one minute to get on the board. A Pittsburgh penalty 16 seconds into the game led to a power play-goal for SU midfielder Caroline Trinkaus. The next few minutes saw multiple turnovers and fouls by the Panthers, which eventually opened the floodgates for the Orange.
🎥 Roll the highlights! pic.twitter.com/jjcbl4HxE9
— Syracuse Women's Lacrosse (@CuseWLAX) March 28, 2026
Midfielders scored every single goal for Syracuse on Saturday, and the next five came in just seven minutes. Redshirt senior Mackenzie Rich had two, and sophomore Molly Guzik converted her team-high 28th goal on another power play. Trinkaus added another, and junior Joely Caramelli scored her first in three games to make it 6-0 after the first frame. Pitt only attempted two shots in the period, with none on goal. That marked SU’s second-most lopsided quarter this year.
The Panthers did a relatively good job at holding off the Orange to start the second quarter. However, nothing lasts forever. Syracuse added two new goal scorers less than one minute apart just past the quarter’s midway point, with midfielders Alexa Vogelman and Mackenzie Borbi making it 7-0 and 8-0. Pitt finally got on the board a few minutes later with junior Kaitlyn Giandonato scoring her team-leading 31st goal. The Panthers’ only shot on goal in the quarter would be their only bright spot of the half. Two Pittsburgh turnovers led to two more Syracuse goals in the final two minutes. Emma Muchnik had her only goal of the game, and Guzik snuck in another with one second left to make it 10-1 SU at the half.
“We gotta cash in offensively,” Syracuse head coach Regy Thorpe said. “They’ve been doing the right things. … We just have to continue to do that, and if we can do that, we’re gonna be a tough team to beat.”
SU’s 10-1 lead at the break is tied for its most lopsided half this year. It’s also the second time the Orange went into the locker room with double-digit goals. The only other instance was earlier this month, when Syracuse crushed California 13-3 on March 3rd.
Things only got worse for Pittsburgh in the third quarter. The teams started by trading goals in with Guzik striking first and Panthers freshman Emily Clements answering to make it 11-2. After that, the period turned into a mistake-filled disaster for the Panthers. Pitt turned it over six times while SU only did so once.
After Orange midfielder Mileena Cotter netted her only score of the game, the Panthers committed two turnovers and two fouls, which led to two free possession shots for Syracuse. Rich and Guzik converted both before a yellow card gave SU another power play less than two minutes later. Caramelli found paydirt again, and the Orange led the Panthers 15-2 after three quarters.
Just before that goal, Syracuse defender Coco Vandiver made history. The senior recorded her second caused turnover on the day, and the 102nd in her career. That last mark gave her the most in program history.
“I think the most special part is that Katie Goodale had recently held the record and she was a mentor to me,” Vandiver said. “That’s what it means to me. To be .. playing for the girls that instilled a passion in me.”
Syracuse went into the fourth with its biggest lead after three quarters this year. With the comfortable advantage, SU made a change at goalie. For the third time this year, the Orange replaced senior Daniella Guyette with sophomore Allie Hanlon. The other two were earlier this month against Cal and Virginia Tech, games which SU won 13-3 both times. Guyette’s day ended with just three shots on goal faced, one save, and two goals allowed.
Coincidence or not, Hanlon’s appearance marked the only time all day that Pittsburgh’s offense came to life. The Orange did start the quarter with another free position goal, this time for Cotter, to mark their highest-scoring game this year. The Panthers went on their only scoring run right after, though.
In three minutes, Pittsburgh never lost possession and netted three goals. The third of which came on a power play after a yellow card from Syracuse defender Kaci Benoit. The Panthers didn’t let up after that. Pitt kept the ball for over the next three minutes and added another score from graduate student Maureen McNierney.
Despite the strong play, Syracuse still led 16-6 with less than four minutes remaining. After SU ran out most of the clock, Giandonato netted the final goal of the game for Pitt in the last minute. A 5-0 run by the Panthers made the score more respectable, but the Orange emerged with a 16-7 victory, their ninth straight.
The win marks Syracuse’s fifth over Pittsburgh in as many games across program history. Those victories have come in each of SU’s last five seasons. The Orange win by almost 10 goals on average when they play the Panthers.
“I’m just really proud of the group,” Thorpe said. “The kids have been great with the preparation. … We want to keep it rolling.”
Next for Syracuse is its last non-conference game of the regular season against Cornell in Ithaca on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Follow @WAERSports on X for live updates as the Orange try to win their 10th straight.
