Women’s lacrosse dominates UConn in season opener

The nationally ranked Syracuse Women’s Lacrosse team started its season off hot with a win over Connecticut this afternoon in the Carrier Dome, 18-6.

A hard defense kept the Huskies (0-1) away from SU goalkeepers Asa Goldstock and Bri Stahrr. Goldstock recorded three saves and four goals against, and Stahrr recorded two saves and two goals against. Additionally, Syracuse caused nine of the Huskies’ 20 turnovers, while UConn caused four of Syracuse’s 17.

Syracuse’s Natalie Wallon opened up scoring for the Orange (1-0), with an assist from Mary Rahal, after a free position attempt. Rahal faked a shot toward the net and dished it out to Wallon, who finished the play.

The Orange went on an 8-0 run in the first eight minutes of the game before UConn’s Sydney Watson broke the Huskies’ silence after a free position shot goal. Syracuse standout player Emily Hawryschuk scored four of the first eight goals for the Orange and did not score again after the 22-minute mark in the first half.

Around the 23-minute mark, Hawryschuk passed to Megan Carney near the goal, who dropped the ball. Cara Quimby was there to pick it up and put it in the back of the net for another Cuse goal. The Syracuse team was hard at work this afternoon, scooping up 19 ground balls compared the UConn’s 15.

“We had a game plan of getting every single person on our team in the game,” Hawryschuk said after the contest. “Even when it was the score that it was, we still wanted to give it our all and make sure everyone got playing time.”

After Watson’s goal, SU freshman Meaghan Tyrrell and sophomore Sam Swart added two goals each to give Syracuse a comfortable 12-1 lead heading into the half. Both of Tyrrell’s shots were bounce shots that sailed past UConn’s goalkeeper, Grace Beshlian.

After the intermission, Syracuse continued to dominate, scoring three more goals before UConn’s Caitlin Leary came back with one for the Huskies. Connecticut’s Olivia Miles and Abby Vetsch went on to score one each before SU redshirt junior Morgan Alexander scored her first of three goals.

Each team scored twice more before the end of the game, with Alexander scoring the final two goals for Syracuse with 3:26 and 1:56 left in the contest. Vetsch was able to dish out one final goal for the Huskies with around 14 seconds left.

Syracuse dominated draw controls, taking 16 while UConn only grabbed nine. Overall, both sides of the field dominated, but SU took home a strong win to begin the season.

“I have a really special feeling in my stomach about this team — a really good one — so I’m excited to see what the rest of the season brings us,” Hawryschuk said.

The Orange women, who are ranked as high as No. 13 in the polls, face Binghamton next at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Dome.