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Syracuse has been forced to embrace the underdog mentality early this season. But that’s the reality of scheduling the nation’s best.

Whatever judgments Inside Lacrosse makes in its weekly polls are only fuel. The Orange tasted that sour sentiment last year and overcame it — to a point.

Then-No. 7 Maryland didn’t know who Syracuse would deploy on the draw all offseason. But out marched Molly Guzik. After a rocky end to her junior year, Daniella Guyette posted 14 saves against No. 1 North Carolina. Even then-No. 3 Stanford didn’t anticipate the Orange’s first flawless clearance game of the year.

Regardless, SU dropped all three contests, and a bout with surging Loyola wouldn’t change its underdog status. Still, the Orange came through and delivered.

Here are observations from No. 15 Syracuse’s (1-3, 0-2 Atlantic Coast) 15-7 thrashing of No. 13 Loyola (2-3, 1-0 Patriot League).

Fast start…finally

Having not struck first since May 9, 2025, it was refreshing for SU to take its first 1-0 lead through four games this season. Against the Terrapins, Syracuse didn’t score until the second quarter after it already trailed 3-0. The Tar Heels and Cardinal also managed to get on the board first, doing so in the first five minutes.

The Orange wasted no time in asserting their dominance. They led at various stages over UNC but never for a full quarter. The ball movement was imposing from the minute Guzik won the opening draw, and that carried into the ensuing possessions, when Annie Parker found Joely Caramelli for her first tally in front of the net.

SU didn’t take its foot off the pedal, doubling the advantage with a Guzik slice at the inner right post. Even after adversity struck with a Morgan Ruhnke tally, Syracuse maintained its poise, as Courtney Maclay found the back of the net.

Parker starts over Volpe

Ashlee Volpe likes to perch herself at X. She creates instant offense as a security blanket to pass to with a surplus of open space. The junior is also keen on being a setup piece for driving players to bounce off of to score in front of the net.

But for the first time since the ACC Tournament last year, Volpe didn’t start. Instead, Parker earned a midfield selection in the starting 12 and registered more assists than Volpe had all year long just over three minutes into Tuesday’s clash.

With her back to the goal, Parker showcased her vision by hitting Caramelli in stride for a finish. The sophomore did the same thing, keeping her eyes peeled for Maclay driving toward the cage.

Parker never started as a freshman and only cameoed briefly against North Carolina. But with a track record of deploying an insipid rotation, SU head coach Regy Thorpe made it known he was content with an aberration and fleshing out reserves.

Volpe isn’t an issue. In fact, she had a career-high four assists Tuesday. A benching may have been the secret to unlocking her potential after multiple ACL tears early in her career. All the times her setups didn’t work out in the first three games finally came into fruition Tuesday.

Still, Parker was automatic with her passing in the opening quarter and could be part of a solution. The Orange could benefit from finding a way to get both of them on the field at the same time.

Muchnick disappearing

By making the prestigious Tewaaraton Award watch list, there are expectations of being a top-50 player in the country. Emma Muchnick is no stranger to that.

It makes sense that opposing defenses, like Loyola did Tuesday, would try to limit her. But being a non-factor and spending a strong portion of the contest on the bench was perplexing, given the weight Muchnick carries.

Scoring a team-high 34 goals last year, the senior was supposed to be the rock of the Orange’s offense. But with Trinkaus and Guzik emerging as the clear first two options, Muchnick has taken a back seat.

Scoring once on Tuesday in SU’s biggest scoring barrage of the season was surprising. For the Orange to total 15 goals despite entering the game averaging an ACC-low 6.7 per contest, it would have been the perfect opportunity for her to find her groove after scoring just twice through three games.

With the Greyhounds playing her tight, she couldn’t add to the score.

3rd-quarter surge

Syracuse’s offense was invigorated immediately out of the halftime break — something it couldn’t do in its previous two games. Against UNC, the Orange were outscored 3-1 in the frame and 2-0 at Stanford.

But against Loyola, SU didn’t mess around. It outscored the Greyhounds 7-0. The scoring effort was balanced, too. Guzik scored three times, Mileena Cotter added two, while Mackenzie Borbi, Bri Peters and Mackenzie Rich also got on the board.

The slim 6-4 advantage at the break may have been worrisome to Thorpe, but his halftime message stuck with his squad. Lacrosse is a game of runs, and if the Orange can string together seven consecutive goals while holding a clean sheet in goal, they have the ability to dethrone the best.

DISCLAIMER: Courtney Maclay is a contributing writer for The Daily Orange. She did not influence the editorial content of this article.

Published on February 24, 2026 at 7:38 pm
Contact Jason: jaglick@syr.edu | @jason_glick