Syracuse women’s lacrosse’s roadmap to making its 4th NCAA Tournament title game
For the first time since 2018, SU women’s lacrosse settled for an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament. Our beat writer analyzes its path. Aaron Hammer | Staff Photographer
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Syracuse’s 2025 season couldn’t have ended worse. Following a stunning loss to unranked Virginia Tech the week before, SU looked to close out the regular season on a high against No. 2 Boston College. But BC dominated the Orange for the eighth game in a row with a 17-2 drubbing.
Despite the humbling defeat, there was still hope for Syracuse in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament. Veteran defender Sam DeVito set the tone for her squad before its opening matchup with No. 3 seed Stanford, insisting, “one bad game doesn’t define us.”
But once again, Syracuse faltered when it mattered most. A 7-0 run powered SU to an 8-5 lead at the half, but its attack turned stale out of the break, and its defense shriveled. The Cardinal outscored the Orange 10-2 across the final 30 minutes, sealing their first ACC postseason win.
Now, Syracuse’s final chance to salvage its worst season under head coach Kayla Treanor lies in the NCAA Tournament. Finishing just above .500, SU settled for an at-large bid to the dance for the first time since 2018. Last season, the Orange advanced to the Final Four for the third time since 2021, but couldn’t finish the job. If Syracuse wants to embark on a similar run this season, it will need to defy the odds against some of the nation’s best programs.
Here’s Syracuse’s (9-8, 5-4 ACC) roadmap through the NCAA Tournament beginning on Friday:
First Round: Brown
Out of Syracuse’s likely opponents along its postseason path, No. 21 Brown is the only unknown. The Orange haven’t seen the Bears since their first bout in 2005, a 19-6 SU thrashing. But this time, things may not be so easy for Syracuse.
The Bears have enjoyed a historic 2025 season, punching their first-ever ticket to the NCAA Tournament. Their 10 wins tied a single-season record, earning them a spot in the Ivy League Tournament for the first time ever. If Syracuse wants to slam the door on Brown’s record-breaking campaign, it’ll need to find a way to shut down its offensive depth.
Much like Syracuse, Brown thrives on spreading the ball around. Eight different Bears have tallied double-digit goals in 2025, four of whom have also racked up 10-plus assists. Midfielder Annie Burton orchestrated Brown’s offense with a team-high 53 assists, which ranks seventh in the nation. With a career-high 51 goals, veteran attacker Greta Criqui has propelled Brown.
While Brown’s defense has forced just 7.38 turnovers per game, its goalkeeping has backstopped it. Starter Claire Mahoney’s been a consistent presence between the pipes, holding a strong .465 save percentage and 8.95 goals against per game.
Second Round: Likely No. 7 Seed Yale
A win over Brown will likely set Syracuse up for a rematch with No. 7 Seed Yale in New Haven, assuming the Bulldogs take care of business against UAlbany.
On April 2, the Orange saw their four-game win streak halted in a tight road contest with the Bulldogs. Although they never trailed by more than four, the Orange’s 7-for-26 mark on the draw hindered their comeback as they fell 13-10. Since the matchup, both sides have gone in completely different directions.
Dropping three of its next four games, SU tumbled to No. 19 in the Week 13 Inside Lacrosse Poll. The position marked its lowest ranking under Treanor and worst since 2018. On the other hand, Yale’s campaign was spotless after defeating Syracuse. The Bulldogs won out to end the season, riding that momentum to a second straight Ivy League Tournament title.
Yale boasts a top-heavy attack, but it’s been an efficient strategy. Its offense runs through the big three of Jenna Collignon, Sky Carrasquillo and Fallon Vaughn, who have each tallied 40-plus goals. With occasional help from Lane Taylor, the trio has guided Yale’s draw control unit to the eighth-best percentage in the nation at .596.
The Bulldogs’ backline relies on a different trio. Yale’s defensive core of Sophie Straka, Katie Clare and Emmy Pascal have helped maintain goalie Niamh Pfaff’s stellar .470 save percentage, scooping up a combined 75 ground balls and 39 caused turnovers.
Syracuse freshman Mileena Cotter dodges toward the goal against then-No. 21 Notre Dame. Cotter will be key to helping SU get past No. 21 Brown in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Aaron Hammer | Staff Photographer
Quarterfinals: Likely No. 2 Seed Boston College
If SU can avenge its midseason loss against Yale in round two, it will likely get another crack at the reigning national champions in the quarterfinals. After the Eagles’ blowout win over the Orange, they fought their way back to the ACC Championship game before falling to No. 1 Seed North Carolina.
As it has for years, Boston College alternated between the No. 1 and No. 2 spots in the nation all season. The Eagles’ game plan runs through their attack, something Syracuse learned the hard way in the squads’ meeting on April 17. BC managed to put 12 past the Orange before they notched their first tally.
With weapons like Rachel Clark, Emma LoPinto and Mckenna Davis already eclipsing the 90-point plateau, the Eagles possess the nation’s top scoring offense with 17.68 goals per game. At their backline, defender Shea Baker captained BC to a top-five mark in defensive efficiency (22.7%) per Lacrosse Reference. Her team-high 35 caused turnovers rank third in the ACC.
In the crease, it’s been business as usual for goalie Shea Dolce. In year three as an Eagle, her .557 save percentage sits atop Division I and her 7.49 goals against average is the second-best mark in the country. She stonewalled the Orange in April with a season-high .867 save percentage.
Semifinals: Likely No. 3 Seed Northwestern
If Syracuse can somehow take down Boston College for the first time since 2021, a similar challenge may await it in the Final Four. Barring a major upset, Syracuse will have to go through No. 3 Seed Northwestern if it wants to secure an NCAA title game.
The Wildcats’ attack took a tough blow when two-time Tewaaraton Award winner Izzy Scane graduated. But after playing alongside Scane for the past couple years, junior Madison Taylor has taken up her mantle. With 89 goals, she slots in behind only Clark’s 91 for the most in Division I. Not only can Taylor find twine, but she’s also proven herself as a consistent distributor for the Wildcats, posting a team-high 36 assists.
Just as Taylor commands Northwestern’s attack, its duo of Sammy White and Jane Hansen do the same for its defense. Notching new career bests in caused turnovers with 34 and 40 apiece, White and Hanson helped force the Wildcats’ opponents into 305 turnovers this season.
Northwestern also features the country’s third-best scoring defense, as the unit accounts for 8.22 goals per game. Former SU goalie Delaney Sweitzer has been steady in net, posting a .490 save percentage in her debut season at Northwestern.
Championship: Likely No. 1 Seed North Carolina
An improbable victory over Northwestern would send SU to the finals for the first time since 2021. There, it would likely face its toughest test in No. 1 Seed North Carolina.
The last time the Orange and Tar Heels met, Syracuse put up one of its worst performances of the season. With SU still reeling from the loss of Olivia Adamson, it took just one frame for UNC to push the contest completely out of reach. By the end of the opening quarter, the Tar Heels already grew their lead to six leading to a 16-8 rout.
North Carolina enters the NCAA Tournament as the only undefeated team in the nation, claiming the program’s eighth ACC Tournament title. Sisters Chloe and Ashley Humphrey have been the engines behind UNC’s attack in 2025. The two have each put together strong Tewaaraton Award resumes, accumulating 98 and 97 points, respectively. The next-closest Tar Heel, Olivia Vergano, has just 47.
In the circle, North Carolina has received contributions across the board, as six different players have amassed at least double-digit draw controls. Supported by a deep defensive group, UNC sports a .950 clearing percentage, the best mark in the nation. Its defensive efficiency of 20.1% also ranks second-to-none, per Lacrosse Reference. And redshirt freshman Betty Nelson has been exceptional in goal, flaunting a .505 save percentage in her first year as a starter.
