Previewing No. 6 Syracuse’s nonconference matchup with No. 13 Yale
No. 6 Syracuse will look to extend its winning streak to five when it travels to face No. 13 Yale on Wednesday. Aaron Hammer | Staff Photographer
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Syracuse is on a roll. Since starting the season 4-4, the Orange have won their last four games. But besides a 17-11 triumph over Pittsburgh, the victories haven’t come easily for SU.
Across its last three matchups, Syracuse has continuously let its opponent claw back into games. On the road against then-No. 17 Loyola, SU held a four-goal cushion at halftime but only took the contest 14-12. Against then-No. 21 Notre Dame, it was the same story. Even after building a three-goal advantage midway through the fourth quarter, the Orange barely held off the Fighting Irish, 12-11.
Last time out, Syracuse fell into the same trap against then-No. 11 Virginia. Despite holding a 12-8 hold to begin the final frame, the Orange nearly imploded. In under three minutes, the Cavaliers rattled off four unanswered goals, but Caroline Trinkaus’ late tally rescued SU from collapse.
Syracuse hopes to play a more complete game when it finishes its nonconference slate on the road versus Yale. The Bulldogs boast a 4-1 record at home this season but have dropped their last three games.
Here’s everything to know about No. 13 Yale (7-3, 1-2 Ivy League) before its matchup with No. 6 Syracuse (8-4, 4-2 Atlantic Coast) Wednesday:
Alex Levy | Design Editor
All-time series
The series is tied 2-2.
Last time they played…
For the first time in over two decades, Syracuse and Yale met in the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals on May 16, 2024. Guided by Emma Ward and Emma Tyrrell’s efforts, the Orange easily dispatched the Bulldogs and marched closer to a national title via a 19-9 drubbing.
SU’s dominant performance on the draw — going 22-for-31 — allowed its offense to outscore Yale in all four quarters. Four Syracuse players finished the contest with at least three goals. Tyrrell’s nine points (seven goals, two assists) set a new career best, while Ward’s seven marked a season-high.
The Bulldogs report
Yale did a bit of everything in its historic 2024 campaign. For the first time in program history, the Bulldogs claimed the outright Ivy League title behind a spotless 7-0 conference record. Eight days later, Yale also snagged its first Ivy League Tournament championship, defeating Penn in an overtime thriller.
This season, Yale has kept its championship roster intact, retaining almost all of its contributors on both sides of the ball. Just as she did last season, Jenna Collignon leads the Bulldogs’ attack with 36 goals and 38 points, both team highs. Fallon Vaughn and Sky Carrasquillo support her with 33 and 28 points, respectively.
On defense, Katie Clare leads a strong unit through 10 games this season. During Yale’s season-opening seven-game winning streak, the Bulldogs never surrendered double-digit goals to an opponent. Clare’s 18 ground balls and 10 caused turnovers rank second on the team, headlining a mostly unchanged group from last year.
In net, Laura O’Connor stepped down from the starting role after playing 16 games as a freshman last season. Instead, Cami Donadio slid in between the pipes for the Bulldogs with occasional help from Niamh Pfaff. Despite Donadio’s .380 save percentage, Yale is 6-1 this season when she’s the starter.
How Syracuse beats Yale
If Syracuse wants to extend its season-altering streak further, it needs to keep Yale’s possessions brief. The Bulldogs have thrived off lengthy possessions this season, using as much of the 90-second shot clock as possible. Yale’s 58% time of possession ranks second in the country, according to Lacrosse Reference. Behind this tactic, the Bulldogs have mustered at least 10 goals in every single game.
SU must exploit the Bulldogs’ inability to put shots on target. Yale’s lowly 39.1% shooting percentage is 98th nationally, greatly contributing to its three-game spiral. If the Orange can keep the Bulldogs from pelting a high amount of shots at goalie Daniella Guyette, they should clinch their ninth win of the campaign.
Stat to know: 19.3%
Few teams in Division I have clamped down on the ball more consistently than Yale in 2025. Its 19.3% turnover rate is the best in the nation. On top of that, the Bulldogs’ 10.00 turnovers per game is the best mark, and only Vaughn has logged more than nine.
On the other hand, Syracuse turns over the ball 14.50 times per game. If the Orange want to keep Yale’s offense from turning in another 10-plus goal outing, they’ll need to find a way to pick its pocket.
Player to watch: Jenna Collignon, attack, No. 14
The Bulldogs wouldn’t have won the Ivy League Championship last season without Collignon. With 12 goals in the tournament, she tied the all-time Ivy League record and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. Her game-tying goal with six seconds left in the championship game kept Yale alive, setting up its eventual overtime win.
Following a career-high 71 points last year (67 goals, four assists), Collignon remains the cornerstone of Yale’s attack. With a team-high 36 goals, she’s already all but solidified her spot as the Bulldogs’ leading scorer for the third season in a row. Not only can Collignon find the back of the net, but she’s also starred on the draw with a team-high 48 wins.
