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Entering the 2021 National Championship against No. 4 Boston College, No. 3 Syracuse radiated confidence. Just days after upsetting No. 2 Northwestern 21-13, SU faced an Eagles team it’d bested in its previous two meetings. The Orange’s first-ever title seemed within reach.

Instead, the Eagles had the last laugh as they served Syracuse its third NCAA title game loss. Since falling short in the championship game four seasons ago, the Orange are 0-6 against Boston College. A rivalry once dominated by SU has morphed into the complete opposite.

Veterans like Emma Ward, one of the only players left from that runner-up squad, are well aware of this trend. Before Syracuse’s season opener, Ward mentioned overcoming its recent struggles against the Eagles was one of the team’s biggest goals in 2025.

“We have goals and aspirations as a group and individually,” Ward said on Feb. 5. “Beating BC, winning a National Championship. It’s the little things that are going to lead us to that big success.”

Due to departures of pillars like Emma Tyrrell, Natalie Smith and Delaney Sweitzer and Olivia Adamson’s season-ending injury, SU has sported a youthful roster this season. But struggles have followed. Syracuse set lows it hadn’t reached since 2018 when it notched its sixth regular-season loss and dropped to No. 16 in the Inside Lacrosse Poll.

Still, as the Orange prepare for their rivalry clash with Boston College, a breakthrough win could thrust them back into the national spotlight. Here are some key matchups to watch for during No. 16 Syracuse’s (9-6, 5-3 Atlantic Coast) regular-season finale against No. 2 Boston College (14-1, 7-1 Atlantic Coast):

Attack: Emma Ward vs. Rachel Clark

Just like last season, Ward and Clark remain the driving forces of their teams’ offenses in 2025.

In her final season with Syracuse, Ward has seen a slight dip in production without SU’s usual wealth of talent surrounding her. Regardless, her team-high 68 points have led Syracuse’s newly assembled attack.

With 41 assists, the fifth-year senior has served as the Orange’s primary distributor, often orchestrating their attack from X. Ward has also punished the Eagles throughout her record-breaking career with 28 points in nine games.

Boston College has always boasted consistent offensive threats, too. Over the past four seasons, the Eagles have seen at least one player eclipse the 100-point plateau. Last season, it was Rachel Clark, whose 101 points guided BC to the National Championship.

In 2024, Clark’s 78 tallies were the fourth-most in the nation, and she’s shown no signs of slowing down amid her senior season. With 71 goals already, tied for the most nationally, Clark has cemented her status as one of Division I’s most lethal scorers. A big night against Syracuse on Thursday could put her alone at the top of the leaderboard.

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Midfield: Emma Muchnick vs. Kylee Colbert

Unlike Boston College, Syracuse has received ample goalscoring from its midfield this season. Four of SU’s top six scorers are midfielders. Chief among them is Emma Muchnick, who has a team-high 30 goals.

With at least one point in all but one game, Muchnick’s helped Syracuse’s attack break out of lulls against the country’s best goalies. For instance, her career-best five goals lifted the Orange to a narrow 14-12 victory at then-No. 17 Loyola on March 19.

Conversely, Boston College’s potent attack has run purely through its attackers. So, midfielder Kylee Colbert has only managed 18 points through 15 contests, the most by a BC midfielder. Still, the sophomore has had her moments. Against Pitt on March 29, she produced a hat trick in the Eagles’ 18-6 blowout win.

Defense: Coco Vandiver vs. Shea Baker

Syracuse’s offensive production alone likely won’t be enough to carry it to victory over BC. The Eagles have racked up an ACC-high 274 goals, while the Orange have mustered the seventh most in the conference at 200. But if SU’s backline can limit the Eagles’ attack, it could sneak away with an upset.

Led by Coco Vandiver’s breakout year, where she’s totaled 28 ground balls and a team-high 36 caused turnovers, Syracuse’s defense has guided it to five ranked wins. Vandiver also forced at least three giveaways in the Orange’s wins over then-No. 7 Maryland, then-No. 6 Stanford and then-No. 21 Notre Dame.

For BC, Shea Baker has equally frustrated opponents in 2025. While her impact hasn’t matched Vandiver’s, Baker’s 24 ground balls and 29 caused turnovers have been instrumental throughout BC’s nearly-blemish-free campaign. Additionally, Baker has given SU fits in the past, helping the Eagles force 45 turnovers across three meetings with the Orange last season.

However, Baker has the biggest advantage over Vandiver in the circle. A key cog of BC’s three-player draw control unit, Baker’s 72 wins rank second on the Eagles.

Goalie: Daniella Guyette vs. Shea Dolce

During the past two seasons of Syracuse and Boston College’s storied rivalry, the Orange have leaned on Sweitzer in net. But now, those days are gone.

Following Sweitzer’s transfer to Northwestern last offseason, Daniella Guyette was thrust into the starting role. She’s been reliable throughout her first stint as SU’s go-to keeper, sporting a .461 save percentage despite occasional hiccups.

During the Orange’s matchups with then-No. 2 North Carolina and then-No. 3 Northwestern, Guyette showed she could hold her own against some of the best shooters in D-I. Though Syracuse dropped both contests, Guyette’s combined 29-for-55 saving mark proved her ability.

In contrast to Guyette, Shea Dolce’s been BC’s starter since joining the program in 2023. As the first freshman goalie to start between the pipes for Boston College since 2016, the Eagles knew they were taking a risk by placing her in the spotlight. The decision has paid off.

Dolce’s season save percentage has never fallen below .450. Boasting a 49-7 overall record, she’s helped guide the Eagles to back-to-back conference championships and a national title in 2024. Through five career matchups with SU, she’s yet to lose and has held it to single-digit goals on three occasions.

Published on April 14, 2025 at 11:07 pm
Contact Matthew: mgray06@syr.edu | @ma77hew_gray