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For the first time in 2026, Syracuse looks to avoid a losing streak. SU is undefeated no more after it fell 13-12 on the road against then-No. 14 Harvard. The Orange let a two-goal lead with six minutes left slip, and the Crimson knocked off a No. 1 team for the first time in program history.

Syracuse’s six-game road trip extravaganza continues with another Ivy League opponent, Princeton. The Tigers lost to SU 19-18 in last year’s NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals, an all-time classic contest. Through two games in 2026, Princeton is 1-1. It fell flat in its season opener versus then-No. 14 Penn State, losing 13-7, but put on an impressive display to take down then-No. 2 Maryland 13-12 in College Park.

Here’s how our beat writers feel No. 6 Syracuse (3-1, Atlantic Coast) will fare against No. 7 Princeton (1-1, Ivy):

Zak Wolf (2-2)
Another roadblock
Syracuse 13, Princeton 14

The theme of Syracuse’s season so far is revenge. SU got some over Maryland after the Terrapins ended its season in the Final Four last year. Then Harvard got payback on the Orange, who ended the Crimson’s 2025 campaign. Continuing the trend of revenge, Princeton will get back at Syracuse to avenge its loss in the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals.

Like SU, the Tigers boast arguably the most dangerous offense in the country. Whether it’s Nate Kabiri, Peter Buonanno or Chad Palumbo, Princeton can hurt opponents in multiple ways. Palumbo leads the team with six points, one of six with at least three points.

Syracuse played excellent defense in the first quarter last week, but looked frail over the next three. SU’s short-stick defensive midfielders were a vulnerability — especially without Jake Spallina — and that’ll continue Friday.

Princeton will exploit any mismatch it finds. Considering it scored 18 goals on Syracuse last year and returned everyone but Coulter Mackesy at attack, it’ll have another big offensive output. I think SU’s offense will keep up, but the pressure of needing to bounce back after last week will hurt the Orange.

In 2025, they were vulnerable following defeats. After losing to Maryland, Syracuse lost surprisingly to Harvard. Though it won the next six games, SU finished the season losing three straight.

Another losing streak will begin Friday, and the pressure will continue to build on Syracuse.

Nicholas Alumkal (2-2)
Back to winning ways
Syracuse 15, Princeton 12

Syracuse suffered a gut-check loss at Harvard Saturday. It continued a worrying trend of losing every game played outdoors in February since 2003. The Orange have a mulligan at Princeton, and they’ll take advantage of it.

In a two-game sample size, it’s hard to figure out how good Princeton is. The 13-7 thrashing versus No. 15 Penn State didn’t bode well. But then it defeated then-No. 2 Maryland 13-12 Saturday. One vulnerable area for the Tigers is at the faceoff X. They’ve won a measly 39.6% of draws this season. On the other hand, though John Mullen has struggled away from the JMA Wireless Dome, his 60% winning percentage this season should allow him to get the better of the Tigers.

In turn, I expect Syracuse’s offense to enter angry, coming off its upset in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Saturday. Trying to stop the Orange attack will be like trying to plug six holes at once with only two hands and two feet. The Tigers have struggled to keep admittedly strong opponents off the scoresheet.

This one won’t be as close as the two teams’ NCAA Tournament meeting. The result, though, will be the same. And Syracuse will return to winning ways.

Mauricio Palmar (2-2)
Tough Tigers
Syracuse 14, Princeton 13

I’ve developed a habit of optimistically predicting wide scorelines for the Orange. I — quite correctly — predicted a seven-goal margin of victory for SU against Boston University in its season opener. Against Saint Joseph’s, I predicted a similarly hefty eight-goal margin of victory for SU, and it made me look like a fool by outscoring that prediction by 10.

Even before last week’s matchup against Harvard, I reasoned that the Orange were better than they were last season — and, comparatively, the Crimson were much worse. That was all the justification I needed to predict a five-goal margin of victory, higher than either of my fellow scribes.

I sure ate crow on that one, didn’t I? While Syracuse is still in a much better position than it was last season, my analysis completely overlooked the strides Crimson returners Graham Stevens, Teddy Malone and Jack Speidell have made heading into this season. SU didn’t win by five; it lost by one, washing away its reign atop college lacrosse.

I’ve learned my lesson now. I still think the Orange have what it takes to beat a Princeton team that hasn’t looked greater than the sum of its parts thus far.

But in 42-degree temperatures at Sherrerd Field, guys like Colin Burns, Palumbo and Kabiri will make life very difficult for SU. It’ll take a Herculean effort, but I think Syracuse has just enough offensive firepower to secure a crucial top-12 victory over Princeton.

Published on February 25, 2026 at 11:37 pm