2023 Syracuse Women’s Lacrosse Preview
By Adam Avin | @_adamavin
CitrusTV Women’s Lacrosse Beat Reporter
Two years after a national championship appearance, Syracuse Women’s Lacrosse is eager to get back to the top. The Orange come into the season ranked sixth in the country, one spot above last year’s finish. Head Coach Kayla Treanor, after a successful career with SU as a player, made waves in 2022, her first season leading the Orange in this new role. Although they weren’t able to bring home the trophy, Treanor’s squad finished 15-6 (6-2 in ACC play), and played against 11 ranked opponents.
Syracuse enters the year without some key players: Emily Hawryschuk, attack; and Sarah Cooper, defense. Hawryschuk, a six-year starter, ended her career surpassing Head Coach Kayla Treanor as Syracuse’s all-time leader in goals with 272. She also finished fourth in career points with 341. Losing both Hawryschuk and Cooper on both ends of the turf isn’t a good thing; luckily, the team gets plenty of help with those who are making their return to the field.
Last Spring, the Orange were ravaged by injuries. Megan Carney, attack; Emma Tyrrell, midfield; and Sierra Cockerille, midfield; are all projected to play opening day after each of their seasons ended last year early with injuries. SU also gets attacker Emma Ward back after she was out for all of the 2022 season with an injury. Ward played a big role during their national championship run as a freshman in 2021.
Even with these starters out for the majority of the games, the Orange proved they could keep up with other elite programs, with some key players stepping up in their absences.
Syracuse’s star attacker Meaghan Tyrrell was named USA Lacrosse Mag D-1 Women’s Preseason Player of the Year and Attacker of the Year. Tyrrell stepped up big time down the stretch and gave the Orange scoring and playmaking they desperately needed. In 2022, she led SU in goals (78), assists (33), and points (111). Tyrrell made the Preseason All-American first team, while her teammate Kate Mashewske, midfielder and draw specialist, was honored on the second team. Meaghan’s sister Emma Tyrrell, along with fellow Orange Megan Carney and Emma Ward, received Honorable Mentions.
Sophomore attacker Olivia Adamson surprised a lot of people last season, filling a major void when Megan Carney went down. Adamson scored her first career goal in her collegiate debut (2022 season opener vs. Stanford), and after her role increased, she responded nicely. Adamson finished the year fourth on the team in goals (31) and fifth in points (48). Her crafty playmaking may slowly propel her to becoming one of the best attackers in the country.
Despite the missing personnel, scoring wasn’t an issue for SU last time around, and it won’t be now with everyone healthy. However, it still isn’t clear if the defense will be able to keep up with the Orange attack. In fact, Coach Treanor hasn’t made it clear who will be in the goal for Syracuse: Kimber Hower or Delaney Sweitzer?
Both Goalkeepers transferred to Syracuse with the hopes of getting the starting role, but Coach Treanor had both Hower and Sweitzer each play a half through the first 5 games of last season. Ultimately, Hower got the job, with the chance of showing her defensive ability from inside the crease. We don’t know if the goalie rotation will stay the same once the season rolls around. Regardless, if the Orange can improve even the slightest bit from that area, they’re going to be a tough team to take down.
Syracuse’s 2023 season starts on Saturday, February 11th, at home against No.3 Northwestern, a program which beat the Orange twice last year, including knocking them out of the NCAA tournament and ending their season. The schedule doesn’t get easier for Syracuse, as nine of their 16 opponents rank in the top 20: No.1 North Carolina (Away), No.2 Maryland (Home), and No.4 Boston College (Home) just to name a few.
The path to a national championship may not be easy, but if the Orange can stay healthy, there is no shortage of talent on this team that won’t make it a possibility. As the Kayla Treanor era enters its second season, her team is angry and ready to fight.
Follow me @_adamavin on Twitter for extra SU WLAX updates throughout the season!
