Syracuse women’s lacrosse moves to 6-0 this season with 17-10 win over Virginia Tech

Syracuse women's lax moves to 6-0 this season with 17-10 win over VT

Megan Carney scored a career-high six goals as goalie Asa Goldstock moved to third in the nation in career saves.
Published: March 27, 2021
NCAA Womens Lacrosse: Stony Brook at Syracuse
Syracuse Orange attacker Megan Carney (22) dodges to the goal as Stony Brook Seawolves midfielder Nicole Rizzo (44) defends during the second half at the Dome.

Syracuse women’s lacrosse beat ACC opponent Virginia Tech, 17-10, and moved to 6-0 this season.

When Syracuse and Virginia Tech last met on March 8, 2020, no one knew that it would be the last game of the season. Shortly after defeating the Hokies in an easy 18-8 victory, SU women’s lacrosse followed suit with other sports and shut down for the remainder of the season due to increasing concerns over a pandemic.

Over a year later, both teams are just excited to be playing lacrosse again. For Syracuse, Saturday’s game against Virginia Tech allowed the Orange to get their legs back under them after a two-week hiatus — and just in time to take on No. 1 North Carolina next weekend.

Syracuse entered Saturday’s match at No. 2. Virginia Tech is technically ranked No. 25, although both US Lacrosse and Inside Lacrosse don’t post rankings past 20. The Hokies are the lowest-ranked out of all ACC women’s lacrosse teams at No. 25, and they have yet to beat a conference opponent through four games. To Virginia Tech’s credit, they play in the toughest conference in women’s lacrosse with the seven other ACC teams being ranked in the top-15.

On the other hand, the Orange is now 6-0 and has remained undefeated despite playing several of the top-five teams. Their true test will come next week when they face off against No. 1 UNC.

Virginia Tech won the opening draw, but the Orange forced them to shuffle the ball around trying to set up a shot. But several Syracuse sticks broke up a Hokies’ pass in front of goalie Asa Goldstock. Sierra Cockerille scooped up the ground ball and ran the length of the field before handing it off. A quick correction of the shot clock and a couple passes later, Megan Carney scored the first goal of the game and her 17th of the season.

The so-called “Meg Show” — made up of Carney and Meaghan Tyrrell — continued, as Tyrrell netted the second goal of the game less than a minute after Carney. The two Megs have kept up with each other all season, and this goal was the 17th for Tyrrell as well. Her sister, Emma Tyrrell, picked up the assist.

Paige Petty snapped Syracuse’s early two-goal lead four minutes and change into the first half. She fought her way through several defenders and sent the ball past Goldstock to move the Hokies within one. Another goal off the free position tied the game early on, something few teams have been able to do against a Syracuse team that usually has a several-goal lead before halftimes.

Syracuse got the goal right back on a free position of their own. Sam Swart juggled the ball before shooting it low past VT goalie Angie Benson, moving the Orange up 3-2.

Much like with their second goal, Emma Tyrrell scored less than a minute later to restore a two-goal padding between the Orange and their opponent.

In a serious case of déjà vu, Virginia Tech scored back-to-back goals to once again tie the score, this time at four. When the Hokies were awarded a free position, Sarah Lubnow capitalized and scored to put Virginia Tech ahead with less than ten minutes remaining in the first half. The Hokies scored again on their next free position and extended the lead to two goals.

In what should have been an unbalanced matchup to ease back into game day mode — with the scale tipping in favor of the Orange – Syracuse was struggling to hold a lead or the momentum to keep scoring.

Both teams exchanged goals, but Syracuse managed to come from behind again and tie the game 7-7 heading into halftime. But, if the Orange learned anything in their second game against Notre Dame, it’s that they don’t like going into the second half down — and they’ll do anything to turn it around.

Cockerille gave Syracuse the lead back with a free position goal just over a minute into the second half. Shortly after, Carney was awarded another free position. Her original shot was saved by Benson but bounced out and into a Syracuse stick. Similar to Carney’s first goal, Cockerille received a pass and sent it Carney’s way, who redeemed herself with the goal.

The Orange scored again — pushing their streak to five straight goals — the score now sitting at 10-7. Some drives in lacrosse can be beautiful plays, and this was one of them. Goldstock jumped to make a stick save, and briefly juggled the ball before launching it to Emma Ward. She pulled in down around the 40-yard-line before juking one opponent and ducking under another’s stick. With two mid-fielders on her tail, she passed to Swart. Swart sprinted toward the Hokies’ goal from around the 50-yard-line and shot the ball full-speed past Benson.

Virginia Tech scored a couple more goals, but it wasn’t enough to come back from Syracuse’s run of nine unanswered points. By the end of the game, Carney and Tyrrell, Syracuse’s leading scorers, had moved into the 20s for goals this season. Carney had a career-high six goals and added an assist for seven points. Tyrrell scored four goals and picked up two assists for six points.

Six other players added goals for Syracuse. Ella Simkins was impressive in the faceoff circle, winning eight draw controls after she filled in for Katelyn Mashewske.

Goldstock made eight saves in the win, which was enough to put her third in the nation in career saves.

After playing three consecutive games at home, the Orange will be back on the road next week when the team travels to Chapel Hill to take on No. 1 UNC. The ACC rivals and top two teams in the nation will square off on Saturday, April 3 at 11 a.m.