No. 15 Syracuse forces 19 turnovers, most in 7 years, in win at Louisville
No. 15 Syracuse jarred 19 turnovers free in its 13-10 win over Louisville Saturday. It was the most SU’s forced in over seven seasons. Eli Schwartz | Asst. Photo Editor
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There wasn’t any reason to think Emma Muchnick wouldn’t extend her reign as Syracuse’s leading goal scorer across two seasons. After all, she nabbed 34 tallies last year, and fellow 30-goal scorer Emma Ward departed.
But instead of scoring, Muchnick’s made an impact on the opposite end of the field. With just three goals through five games, she’s had plenty of time to hawk down the field to cause chaos on opposing teams.
SU’s defense has sought stability, only returning Coco Vandiver and Kaci Benoit as defensive starters. But it’s players like Muchnick and Joely Caramelli racing back to regain possession, or Mackenzie Salentre switching to defense, who make all the difference.
“Our middies really like to play defense, and they’re doing a great job,” SU head coach Regy Thorpe said Thursday.
No. 15 Syracuse (2-3, 1-2 Atlantic Coast) secured its first conference win against Louisville (2-4, 0-3 ACC) by poking 19 turnovers loose, its most since Feb. 12, 2019. Salentre, Vandiver and Caramelli anchored the way with four apiece, while Muchnick wasn’t far behind with three. Any time the Cardinals tried to enter the 12-meter fan, the Orange gave them rude awakenings.
When Regy Thorpe was asked which position group impressed him most through four contests on Thursday, he responded without hesitation.
“Defense.”
Amid the growing pains that come with scheduling three top-10 opponents to start a season, the Orange only conceded double-digit goals once before Saturday. Their defense had broken through.
That came again Saturday, courtesy of a glaring turnover discrepancy, in which the Cardinals doubled the Orange in giveaways — 20-10. The catalyst for that is always Vandiver.
But this season, the senior hadn’t seen her efforts shine in the box score. Vandiver forced four turnovers through as many games, but that completely changed Saturday.
Fifteen seconds after an early Louisville clear, Vandiver knocked the ball out of Avery Johnston’s grasp as she ran toward the cage. The SU senior even scooped up the ground ball less than a moment later to execute one of Syracuse’s 25 clears — remaining perfect on the defensive front for the third straight game.
“(The defense has) been really good in the clear the last couple games, as well,” Thorpe said Thursday. “We’ve cleared 100% the last two games, and that’s been an area we need to keep executing in where we get stops.”
Vandiver pegged Johnston on Louisville’s first possession of the game, and even caused turmoil on Charlotte Jackson down the stretch. Any time the Cardinals cleared a ball, it’d go right down the other end.
Since the Cardinals opted not to take a free-position shot at the end of the first quarter, they’d start with the ball to open the second. It was a cautious decision, prompted by the haunts of the frame.
But that gave SU’s midfield time to retreat and rip the ball loose for taking. Bri Peters caused her first turnover of the season, flinging the ball out of Jackson’s stick for a clear. Then, it was Caramelli on Reese Whiteman, who entered Saturday as Louisville’s leading scorer.
The junior midfielder set up the ensuing Mileena Cotter goal to give the Orange a 4-1 lead. Caramelli did it again right before halftime, allowing Peters to score and reclaim SU’s lead after four unanswered Cardinals tallies.
“Sometimes, you get midfielders who don’t love to come back on (defense) and maybe focus a little more on the offensive end,” Thorpe said Thursday. “I think our middies take a lot of pride in defense.”
Salentre had her crowning moment of the season with a chase-down on Rian Adkins that created instant offense within a minute. She tabbed another turnover between Molly Guzik goals that bolstered Syracuse’s advantage to two.
Early in the third quarter, Muchnick even took the ball the distance off the clear, lacing a shot wide. But that enabled Mackenzie Borbi to score 24 seconds later on the same possession.
When Louisville marched back into the contest after trailing 10-6 with two goals, the Orange needed a defensive spark. With disparities on the draw with freshman Ireland Mistretta getting out her first-game jitters, the Cardinals won nearly every possession from the center circle.
The moment that changed the game and stamped Syracuse’s defensive dominance was when goalie Daniella Guyette poached Kitchen out from the crease. The Cardinals were inches away from cutting the Orange’s lead to one down the stretch.
That led to three quick goals, putting the game out of reach. Out of the midfield, Muchnick jarred one more ball loose, and Caramelli still had two more up her sleeve, with one leading to a Guzik goal. Benoit and Vandiver also capped off their days with one turnover to secure SU a dominant defensive showing despite allowing three more goals than it did Tuesday.
Thorpe planted his vision in his players on Thursday, and all he needed was execution, not only from his defense but also from his midfielders.
“If we can get stops in the (defensive) end and cash in on offense, hopefully we can come out on the good side,” he said.
