Late game comeback lifts Syracuse women’s lacrosse over Virginia, 15-12
Late game comeback lifts Syracuse WLAX over Virginia, 15-12
In the first game since the beginning of 2020, fans other than students filled the stands in Syracuse women’s lacrosse’s 15-12 win over the No. 6 Virginia Cavaliers on Saturday.
For the Orange, this was their first game in the Dome since their two-game road trip. Coming off a 15-10 win against the Georgetown Hoyas, Syracuse was riding a high point while Virginia was seeking revenge, having broken their two-game win streak with a 12-10 loss to Notre Dame heading into this matchup.
Back-to-back Syracuse fouls and free position opportunities for the Cavaliers resulted in the first goal of the game. Annie Dyson was unable to capitalize on the first chance off a foul by Sierra Cockerille, but Ella Simkins gave her another shot and Dyson scored her 15th goal off the free position just over a minute into the first half.
Syracuse did not leave that goal unanswered for long though as Emma Ward tied up the game at one for the Orange under a minute later with her 11th of the season.
However, another foul on Simkins gave the Cavaliers’ Lillie Kloak a free position that ended with Virginia regaining the lead with her 27th goal of the season. Asa Goldstock went down on one knee, giving it her all to try and keep the score even at one, but Kloak’s shot bounced up and over the goaltender’s stick and into the back of the net.
Morgan Schwab was next to add to Virginia’s lead. While driving into the net, Kerry Defliese tried to help defend out in front of the net, but the shot was too strong for both her and Goldstock, and the Cavaliers were up 3-1.
The Orange struggled early on to keep up with offensive pressure as strong defense from Virginia kept the ball out of their net, and the Cavaliers’ ability to get the ball past Syracuse’s defense and Goldstock was equally as strong on the other end.
After strong back-to-back stops by Goldstock out in front, Meaghan Tyrell earned her 29th of the season after a swift swerve around Virginia defenders and a quick pop into the top left corner, cutting the Cavaliers’ lead to one.
But after Goldstock’s two major saves came a giant turnover. A move performed by Goldstock that typically goes unchallenged, she brought the ball down field, and as she tried to make a pass, Morgan Schwab for Virginia was in the right spot to hit the ball out of the air, and a foot race between the two players ensued. Schwab ultimately outran Goldstock and popped the ball in the empty net to make it 4-2, Virginia.
In turning the ball over, Syracuse’s Sam Swart saw her chance to cut down the Cavaliers lead and did just that. Her initial shot was blocked by the legs of Virginia goalkeeper Charlie Campbell, but Swart followed her shot, saw the ball hadn’t been fully stopped, grabbed her own rebound and shoveled the ball past Campbell to bring the Orange within one.
After Syracuse was unable to make any difference on the man-up advantage following a cross check called on Schwab, the Orange found themselves down by two again as a Syracuse turnover gave Virginia possession and eventually their fifth goal of the game. Ashlyn McGovern sent it high and wide, but the ball stayed with the Cavaliers and McGovern was able to surpass Goldstock with just over 10 minutes to go in the first half, flinging it just high of the top of the goalkeeper’s stick for her 24th of the season.
A cross check call on Syracuse’s Defliese gave Virginia the man-up advantage and a 6-3 lead over the Orange. A falling goal for Mackenzie Hoeg, the midfielder leaped through the air after a pass from Dyson and slid the ball right past the right side of Goldstock for her 13th goal of season.
After an initial missed shot by Virginia, Dyson didn’t give up the fight and launched one while running past the left side of the net, into the right side of net, to put the Cavaliers up by four with 6:25 to go in the first half.
Megan Carney had her chance to shine for the Orange as she raced in toward the net and put one in the bottom right corner for her 27th goal of the season and decreased Syracuse’s deficit to 7-4.
To finish off the half, Emma Tyrrell attempted to get one past Campbell, but the shot didn’t go and both teams headed to the locker room with Virginia up by three.
The second half saw a completely different Syracuse team. The Orange elevated their level of play in the final frame, coming out of the locker room much stronger on both sides of the field.
Following a couple off-the-post shot attempts for ‘Cuse, Swart logged her 20th of the season with one just inside of the post to bring Syracuse to 7-5.
Dyson was on fire for Virginia as she captured her 17th of the season after shooting over two defenders and Goldstock to add another point to the Cavaliers’ lead. Dyson had three goals and one assist in the contest.
A free position goal gave Hoeg her second of the game after she bounced it off the ground right in front of Goldstock’s feet and into the net for the 9-5 Virginia lead.
But with some back-to-back action resulting from fouls and turnovers a plenty from both teams, a reenergized team and louder Syracuse bench and crowd helped propel the Orange in the second half of the battle.
Carney was open and ready next to the net. After receiving a pass from Jenny Markey, Carney launched the ball past the left leg of Campbell for her second goal of game back that brought ‘Cuse within three.
Syracuse wasn’t done yet though as Meaghan Tyrrell picked up her second goal of the game on a shot right out in front to cut the Cavaliers’ lead down to two. But the Tyrrells were not happy only bringing their team within two, so they fixed that immediately after. Seconds after her second goal, Meaghan Tyrrell registered her third off a feed from sister Emma Tyrrell and all of a sudden, Syracuse had only a one-goal deficit with 16:16 left in regulation.
However, Virginia regained their two-point lead off a free position opportunity. Chloe Jones drove straight in toward the net, surrounded by Orange defenders, and threw it right into the back of the net for her 7th of the season. But Carney put that two-goal lead to rest again right after by chucking one through the legs of Campbell with 10 minutes to go in the contest.
Virginia wasn’t okay with only being up by one point, so McGovern turned around Defliese and slid it through the legs of Goldstock for her 25th of season, making it 11-9, Cavaliers with 8:29 remaining.
Syracuse kept it close though as Cockerille fought for the ball against Virginia defenders who tried to force a turnover. Cockerille then popped it over to Emma Tyrrell, who finished the play with the Orange’s 10th goal of the game.
Syracuse finally equaled the score at 11 after Carney’s pass over to Meaghan Tyrrell resulted in Tyrrell launching a rocket past Campbell. Her fourth goal of the game came with 7:44 left in the back-and-forth battle.
A Virginia turnover gave Syracuse their first lead of game with just under six minutes left to play. Ward passed the ball to an in-transition Cockerille, who, on her fourth of game, quickly flipped it back and past Campbell for the 12-11, Orange lead.
Meaghan Tyrrell said Syracuse was not done yet as she sped toward the net and flung the ball past Campbell, while ducking under the stick of the Cavalier’s Hoeg for the 13-11 Orange lead.
Syracuse kicked it into high gear and looked like a completely different team. Swart worked around her defender and made it look easy as she sent one past Campbell for her 3rd of the game and put ‘Cuse up by three.
A late second half sprint to the finish line saw Bianca Chevarie ran around her defender, squared up with Campbell and sent one flying for her 3rd goal of the season and the last Syracuse goal of the game.
Having been in the Cavaliers’ zone for most of the latter half of second half but Virginia couldn’t let the Orange get away that easily. With 2:28 left on the clock, Maggie Bostain twirled around a defender and launched a falling goal past a splitting Goldstock to make it 15-12.
In the last minute of play, Virginia’s possession transformed into a Virginia turnover and Syracuse was able to run down the clock, winning it by three after being down the majority of the game.
Meaghan Tyrrell led both teams with five goals while Carney trailed closely with four of her own.
Syracuse will visit Albany to try to extend their win streak against the Great Danes on April 13, at 3 p.m.
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