Previewing No. 16 Syracuse’s regular-season finale vs. No. 2 BC
Syracuse will look to snap its six-game losing streak to Boston College on Thursday when the two sqauds play at Christian Brothers Academy. Leonardo Eriman | Asst. Video Editor
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For Syracuse, late-season success often comes down to defeating Boston College. In recent years, SU’s come up short. The Orange have dropped their last seven matchups against the Eagles, dating back to the national title game in 2021 under then-head coach Gary Gait.
In its fourth season under head coach Kayla Treanor, Syracuse is amid its worst year since 2018. A No. 16 ranking in the recent Inside Lacrosse Poll is its worst in seven years, and an upset loss to unranked Virginia Tech was its latest blunder in a season of close losses.
To cap their regular season, the Orange face off BC, looking to right the ship before postseason play. Syracuse currently sits in the No. 6 spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament. A loss would keep it in the spot, while a win and a Clemson loss to Pitt would move it to No. 5. While SU has posted a historically poor season, Boston College — the reigning national champions — is having another stellar one, falling only to No. 1 UNC.
Here’s everything to know about the No. 2 Eagles (14-1, 7-1 ACC) ahead of their matchup with No. 16 Syracuse (9-6, 5-3 ACC) Thursday in the regular-season finale:
All-time series
Syracuse leads 17-14.
Last time they played …
On May 24, 2024, SU and BC matched up for the third time in 36 days, this time with both of its seasons on the line. Syracuse was stifled in the Final Four, scoring a season-low seven goals, falling to the Eagles for the third time in three tries.
The Orange’s attack failed to score across 17 minutes in the first half and 24 in the second, allowing Boston College to build a five-goal lead entering the fourth quarter. SU attempted a comeback with a 3-1 fourth quarter, but it wasn’t nearly enough to survive. In her final college game, star attacker Emma Tyrrell was limited to just one point and no goals, leading Syracuse to its second consecutive semifinal exit at the claws of the Eagles.
The Eagles report
At this point, it feels like the Orange know the Eagles all too well. Boston College is off to another impressive year, holding the No. 1 slot in the first nine Inside Lacrosse Poll rankings and falling 12-11 to then-No. 2 North Carolina — the only undefeated team in the nation.
BC’s success derives largely from its explosive attack, which averages the most goals per game in the country at 18.27. With continued success comes similar weaponry. The Eagles’ top three scorers from a year ago remain their top three in 2025. Seniors Rachel Clark, Emma LoPinto and Mckenna Davis each rank in the ACC’s top five in points, notching 72 or more each.
On the defensive end, junior goalie Shea Dolce leads the charge once again on a historic campaign. The reigning ACC Goalkeeper of the Year has a career-high .536 save percentage, keeping BC’s defensive unit strong alongside top defender Shea Baker, who ranks third in the conference in caused turnovers per game.
To round out its dominance across the roster, Boston College’s draw unit ranks first in the ACC with 17.6 draws per game. Abbey Herod leads the way with 84, Baker added 72 and Lydia Colasante has 53. Choose a statistic, and the Eagles are likely proficient.
How Syracuse beats Boston College
A logical answer to how the Orange comes out on top would be to burn sage, knock on wood and pray to whatever spiritual being you worship. Though realistically looking into Syracuse’s odds, it needs to play close to perfect.
Emma Ward delivers a pass while being guarded by Notre Dame’s Grace Weigand. Ward’s facilitating has brought her just one assist away from SU’s program record, which is currently held by Katie Rowan Thomson. Aaron Hammer | Staff Photographer
Syracuse has shown signs of a talented team with Emma Ward’s elite facilitating, a draw unit that has won its last two matchups and Daniella Guyette impressing in the cage. If the Orange lean into these three keys and their young core can help Ward, they stand a chance at a season-defining upset bid. This is a test SU often flunks, resulting in a bursting of championship hopes and aspirations year after year. But maybe, just maybe, a lack of pressure due to consistent failures this season results in a change of fortunes in the year’s biggest game.
Stat to know: 29%
Through Treanor’s first 79 games as Syracuse’s head coach, the Orange have lost 21 games. Of those 21 losses, 29% have been to Boston College.
SU fell in all six outings against the Eagles since Treanor took over in 2022, with two coming in the Final Four, one in the ACC Tournament Championship and three in the regular season. Before Treanor took over, Syracuse held a 17-8 record over BC in the head-to-head series. Since, the Orange fail to add to their advantage.
Player to watch: Rachel Clark, attack, No. 1
After an impressive 2024 campaign to help lead the Eagles to a national title, Clark continues her production in her second season at BC. The senior is tied with Northwestern attack Madison Taylor at 71 goals for the most in the country and ranks first in the ACC at 89 points.
Clark combined for 13 points across Boston College’s three games against SU last season, including a five-goal display in the Final Four. The Devon, Pennsylvania, native has tallied a hat trick or more in all but one of the Eagles’ games in 2025. Even if the Orange finds a way to slow her down, Clark is still likely to have an impact on the outcome.
