Midfielder Emma Tyrrell is playing like a Tewaaraton Finalist

Rahill Jaiswal | @RahillJaiswal 

At the start of the season, there were many questions about grad student Emma Tyrrell. The midfielder had only scored four goals through the first six games. Now, when we fast forward to the present day, Tyrrell can not stop scoring and looks like a Tewaaraton finalist.

The New York native has scored 46 goals this season, the third most in the ACC. The grad student needs seven more in the final two games to surpass her previous career high of 52 goals in a single season. Over the last four games, Tyrrell is averaging over five goals a contest. It seems like the grad student can do nothing wrong. This unbelievable streak has caught the eye of head coach Kayla Treanor. Following SU’s 22-12 win vs Louisville a couple of weeks ago, coach Treanor said: “that she really thinks Tyrrell is playing like a Tewaaraton finalist.”

Now, while number 24 has managed to light up the score sheet over the last few games, coach Treanor also believes her impact goes way beyond just scoring. After Syracuse’s most recent win against Pittsburgh, Treanor highlighted how the grad student has taken draw controls, tracked back, and played stellar defense this season. There was one play in particular in the PITT game that showed just how versatile she is. In the middle of the first quarter, the Orange missed a free-position shot and the Panthers pushed ahead. To stop the attack, Tyrrell tracked back almost 50 yards and knocked the ball off the Pitt player’s stick causing a turnover. It’s been those types of plays that have shown how effective number 24 has been in the different phases of the game.

With all this being said, how has Tyrrell managed to kick it into a different gear? While some people might be expecting a complex answer. The grad student says it all comes down to confidence and team chemistry. Over SU’s eight-game win streak, it’s clear that the team has found a good flow and connection on offense. The constant ball movement has allowed the New York native to find space and get some easier goals in front of the cage. Another player on the team who raved about Tyrrell was attacker Payton Rowley. After Syracuse’s win against Pittsburgh at CNS High School, Rowley detailed how easy it is to play with Tyrrell. She also raved about how easy it is to play with her because of the chemistry they have built over the season.

If Tyrrell can do one better than being a finalist and somehow manage to win the Tewaaraton, she would be the first player from Syracuse Women’s Lacrosse to capture the award. Her sister Meaghan Tyrrell came very close last year. However, she eventually lost out to Northwestern’s Izzy Scane, who could be the favorite to go back-to-back right now. Regardless of whether Tyrrell is a finalist or not, the grad student has certainly shown her value this season in numerous different ways.