Syracuse Upsets Loyola in Overtime Thriller
By Nicole Weaving
Women’s Lacrosse Beat Reporter
No. 18 Syracuse faced its second overtime test of the season on Thursday. Earlier this year, the Orange fought back in the second half against the Fighting Irish to push the game to overtime. But as it had been all game long, SU couldn’t get anything going and lost in extra time to Notre Dame.
On Thursday, it was Syracuse’s turn to be victorious. No. 6 Loyola outscored the Orange 10-6 in the second half, erasing a four-goal deficit. Taylor VanThof netted her third of the afternoon with 14 seconds on the clock, sending the game to overtime.
Despite Syracuse being down 15-9 in draw controls heading into overtime, Kerry Defliese grabbed the draw when it mattered. Gary Gait called a timeout and called for the ball to go to Emily Hawryschuk, the team’s leading scorer. Hawryschuk got the ball, dodged her defender, and scored the game-winner less than a minute into the extra period. Syracuse (8-5, 0-3 Atlantic Coast) topped Loyola (8-3, 4-0 Patriot) 12-11 at the Ridley Athletic Complex.
Hawryschuk was the MVP in this victory, having herself a career day.
It started in the draw circle, an area this team has been struggling all season long. Hawryschuk started getting reps on the draw against Princeton. After the Duke loss, Syracuse head coach Gary Gait explained what he sees in the sophomore.
“We looked at Emily, got great quick hands,” Gait said. “With some more practice, I think she could be a really good draw person and make a difference.”
Hawryschuk recorded a career-high five draw controls. When she couldn’t get the ball herself, fellow sophomore Kerry Defliese had her back. She snagged four draws as the two combined for nine of SU’s ten draw controls.
On the attacking end, Hawryschuk scored Syracuse’s first goal of the afternoon. She was then perfect on all three of her free position opportunities. Her abilities to rip the ball the low from the eight-meter fan served her well today.
The Victor, N.Y. native scored one more time in regulation. Hawryschuk made a move around her defender on the left side and fired into the lower right corner past Loyola goalie Kady Glynn.
With the game-winner, Hawryschuk netted a career-high six goals and eight points, thanks to her two assists.
Hawryschuk seemed to back at full-strength for the first time in about two weeks. Over the past four games, she collectively scored five goals and went 1-7 on free position shots. She topped both of those numbers this afternoon.
The Orange has a quick turnaround as they face No. 14 Virginia Tech in Blacksburg on Saturday.
@nicki_weaves | nlweavin@syr.edu
