Even a 45 minute weather delay couldn’t slow down No. 3 Syracuse women’s lacrosse (10-3, 5-2 Atlantic Coast Conference). Despite the lengthy break, the Orange refocused and edged past Cornell (7-4, 2-1 Ivy League) 10-8 in a game that was neck-and-neck through the first half.
“I think we were ready to go,” Syracuse head coach Regy Thorpe said. “We were well prepared, Cornell’s a good team, they move the ball as well as any team in the country.”
The matchup was expected to be a defensive battle between two of the nation’s top five units. But the first half told a different story.
Neither team could create separation early. Every time one squad scored the other answered. Syracuse and Cornell traded goals throughout the opening quarter, ending tied 3-3. That pattern carried into the second, with both teams adding three more goals to head into halftime deadlocked at 6-6.
The second half is when SU pulled ahead largely thanks to a defensive push. SU held Cornell to only two goals in the second half, both of which came in the fourth quarter after the Big Red were held scoreless in the third. Syracuse head coach Regy Thorpe was proud of the way his squad finished.
“I thought they put a lot of pressure on our defense, but our defense got some good stops,” Thorpe said. “To dig in the cleats in the second half and get some stops and come out with a win was big for us.”
This game could have easily swung the other way without Syracuse’s defensive stand and Cornell’s costly penalties. Three of Syracuse’s four second-half goals came off free position shots and woman up opportunities.
Guzik scores on the free position shot to make it five unanswered goals and put the Orange up 9-6 🎯
— Syracuse Women's Lacrosse (@CuseWLAX) April 1, 2026
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On top of that, Cornell was in control at center circle going 11-9 in draw controls and highlighting an area that SU has struggled with all season. The Cuse win just over 40% of draws not even ranking within the nation’s top 100 teams. Still, Syracuse’s dominant defense made up for those offensive lulls and proved to be the difference.
But, Cornell’s unit sure proved why it’s one of the best in the country. Big Red goalie Mackenzie Clark recorded five first-half saves to keep the game even, while Syracuse goalkeeper Daniella Guyette didn’t register a save before the break. But Thorpe credited the senior for impacting the game in other ways.
“When goalies don’t have their best game save wise she got in the game through ground balls,” Thorpe said. “She did a really good job getting the ball up and out to our defenders and midfielders so really proud of her.”
Cornell’s defense also played into Syracuse’s physicality, forcing six turnovers which matched SU’s total. The Orange are known for disrupting offenses, but the Big Red held their own in that department.
Syracuse can continue its momentum as it dives back into ACC play against No. 18 Duke on Saturday at 4 p.m. Follow @WAERSports on X for updates throughout the matchup.