WLAX Takes Down Boston College in Season Opener

By Ally Heath

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – After a rough start, Head Coach Gary Gait’s 2017 Women’s Lacrosse squad overcame some growing pains and small mistakes to dominate the Boston College Eagles 18-8 in the Carrier Dome on Saturday afternoon in the team’s season opener.

Two quick goals from Boston College left some Orange fans questioning how well this team would be after losing top scorers and leaders Kayla Treanor and Halle Majorana to graduation.

Just two minutes later, those questions were gone. The Orange went on an eight goal streak that was lead by junior Riley Donahue, redshirt freshman Mary Rahal and true freshman Emily Hawryschuk, who each had three goals or more on the day.

It seemed like BC might come crawling back at the end of the first half, but it was stopped two goals short of tying the score again. The Eagles would never get that close to holding the lead again.

Although the score was lopsided, there was no absence of shots from BC. It took 26 shots over the course of the game, compared to SU’s 30. Syracuse’s true freshman goalie Asa Goldstock came up big today and stopped 10 after letting in the first two. There were also a number of shots that went wide or hit a post.

Gait was proud of his squad’s accomplishments today and how the team did, but recognized there is still work to do before next Saturday. SU struggled to control the ball on the ground, losing the ground ball battle 24-19.

“We’re young and I think that just gonna show that we have a lot more potential than we showed today,” said Gait after the game.

The Orange will not play again until next Saturday, February 18th, in the Carrier Dome. The Orange play a doubleheader, first against Canisius at 11 AM and then against Binghamton at 7 PM.