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For Syracuse, making a splash in the NCAA Tournament has become an annual tradition. In each of the last five seasons, SU has earned the No. 5 seed or higher and advanced to the quarterfinals. It’s even secured its spot in the Final Four in three of the last four seasons. But this year, Syracuse sat in unfamiliar territory.

Holding a 9-8 record on Selection Sunday, its worst record under head coach Kayla Treanor, the Orange had to settle for an at-large bid to the tournament. It was the first time SU entered the dance unseeded since 2018, and just the second time since 2010. In an environment where SU was considered a juggernaut in the past, it now found itself an underdog.

So, if Syracuse wanted to return to its first NCAA title game since 2021, it needed to jump through an extra hoop than in previous seasons: a first round matchup with Brown. A clash against an unseeded team seemed favorable for the Orange, but their loss to unranked Virginia Tech on April 12 proved that victory is never guaranteed.

Yet on Friday, Syracuse spoiled Brown’s first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance with a 15-9 victory in New Haven. Behind a 7-3 second quarter, the Orange took control of the game by the half with an 11-6 lead it never gave up. Eight different players contributed at least a goal for Orange in the winning effort.

Another tough outing for Guyette

Syracuse’s past two outings have been tough lessons for goalie Daniella Guyette. In her first start against Boston College, she went through long stretches without making a single save, leading to a career-low .200 save percentage. When she returned between the pipes in Syracuse’s ACC Tournament matchup against Stanford, Guyette turned in an almost identical performance.

Despite being pulled in consecutive games, SU remained confident in Guyette going into the NCAA Tournament. But in her second postseason appearance as the No. 1 goalie, Guyette posted another forgettable outing.

Following a lengthy possession, Brown’s Riley Peterson beat Guyette from in close on its first shot of the game. On the ensuing Bears shot attempt, Beth Anderson maneuvered her way inside the 12-meter fan and beat her in similar fashion. Guyette was still searching for her first save by the end of the first half, as she had surrendered goals on all six shots she faced. The stretch marked the first time an SU goalie hadn’t registered a first half save since March 12, 2022.

It wasn’t until the 9:24 mark of the third quarter that Guyette finally logged her first save. She knocked down just one more shot down the stretch, as Syracuse’s relentless offensive pressure at the other end helped mask her new career-worst .182 save percentage.

Ward wakes up

Syracuse’s reliance on Emma Ward this season has been a blessing and a curse. Her ability to orchestrate its offense from X, in tight and from distance has willed it past some of the nation’s top teams. The downside? SU’s opponents have started to key in on Ward’s importance.

When Ward doesn’t play well, neither do the Orange. They’re a package deal. And without Olivia Adamson to take the heat off her, she’s been held to just one point across SU’s last two outings. But to open the final NCAA Tournament of her career, Ward defrosted her cold stretch.

Despite being heavily face-guarded during Syracuse’s first possession, Ward didn’t flinch. With Emma Muchnick to her right, Ward set up her opening tally with a pass off the grass. Minutes later, Ward chipped in on the scoresheet by ripping home one of her vintage behind-the-back strikes.

Amid Syracuse’s one-sided 7-3 second quarter, Ward pulled the strings. Although she didn’t score, Ward’s presence around the 12-meter fan and at X helped seven different SU players find the back of the net during the stretch. She finished the first half with a goal and two assists.

Out of the break, Ward added some insurance to SU’s cushion by subtly supporting its scoring depth. Tacking on three more points before the final buzzer sounded, she finished with six points for the third time in 2025.

SU’s dominant 2nd quarter

A back-and-forth start to the game saw the Orange take a slim one-goal lead to start the second quarter. In the past, Syracuse has shown a knack for allowing the opposition to crawl back into games when it is down.

But Syracuse’s extended break ahead of the NCAA Tournament brought some clarity. Instead of giving its opponent a chance to breathe before the half, the Orange remained composed and extended their lead via a dominant 7-3 second quarter.

Commanded by Ward from the perimeter, seven different Syracuse players notched a goal in the frame. Even freshman Annie Parker and Bri Peters got in on the action, courtesy of perfectly-placed dishes from Caroline Trinkaus and Ward. The Bears tried to match SU’s swarm of tallies, but were hindered by inaccurate shooting across the board.

By the end of the first half, eight different players had scored for the Orange, including a hat trick from Muchnick. The flurry of goals padded SU’s lead up to 11-6 at the half, a lead that stood for the remainder of the contest.

Brown’s offense stunted

A key factor behind Brown’s groundbreaking season has been its ability to move the ball at will. As a result, five Bears have logged at least 30 points this season, as the squad entered Friday boasting the 17th-best scoring offense in the country at 14.69 goals per game. By eating up the shot clock with lengthy possessions, the Bears stretched out Syracuse’s defense early.

A 60-second possession in the opening minutes caught Syracuse’s defense off guard, and the Bears opened up the front of the net enough to give Peterson an easy goal from in close. Flexing its depth, three different Brown players found the back of the net in the first frame. Though, the total could’ve been a lot higher if not for their misfired shots. Of Brown’s 14 shots in the first half alone, just six of them found their way on target.

However, after nearly matching Syracuse’s production in the first quarter, Brown’s offense never looked the same. Held back by missed shots, 14 turnovers and a mediocre 11-for-26 performance on the draw, the Bears never equalized the contest after the first quarter. While four different Brown players notched at least two goals, Syracuse’s defense allowed it to safely maintain its lead en route to a sizable first round victory.

Published on May 9, 2025 at 6:48 pm
Contact Matthew: mgray06@syr.edu | @ma77hew_gray