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From 2016-2021, Syracuse had the upper hand over Northwestern. Not only did SU go 5-2 against the Wildcats over the five years, but it also downed them 21-13 in the 2021 NCAA Tournament Semifinals to punch its ticket to the National Championship Game.

Since 2022, however, it’s been all Wildcats. Northwestern has won four of its last five matchups against the Orange, including a 15-4 thrashing in the 2022 NCAA Quarterfinals. In its clash with the Wildcats last year, SU trailed 5-0 and fell 12-8 for its second straight loss. Madison Taylor, who had an NCAA-record 109 goals in 2025, notched five in the contest.

After the season, Northwestern lured in Olivia Adamson from the transfer portal, leaving SU with a serious void in its attack. Adamson was a vital piece of Syracuse’s offense from 2022 to 2024, but left after former head coach Kayla Treanor departed for Penn State.

Yet, Syracuse got its revenge on Thursday night. For the first time since 2023, SU got the better of Northwestern, cruising to its fifth straight victory behind Molly Guzik’s six goals and stellar defensive play.

Here are some observations from No. 15 Syracuse’s (5-3, 3-2 Atlantic Coast) 9-6 win over No. 4 Northwestern (5-2, Big Ten).

Guzik goes wild

Guzik has put the NCAA on notice this season.

After scoring 14 goals in 19 games as a freshman, Guzik has evolved into an offensive engine for the Orange this season, with 17 goals in just seven contests. Against Virginia Tech on Mar. 6, Guzik tallied four goals in its 13-3 skewering.

Even against the fourth-best team in the nation, Guzik made it look easy from the get-go. With Syracuse trailing 1-0 minutes into the game, the sophomore went low-to-high with her shot and scored from a difficult angle to even the score. Less than a minute later, Guzik came through from behind the net and fooled NU’s defense to give SU the lead.

Guzik kept padding Syracuse’s advantage. Three minutes after her second goal, she secured a hat trick less than halfway through the opening frame off an assist from Caroline Trinkaus. Just seconds into the second quarter, she tacked on another goal to restore a two-goal lead after Northwestern cut its deficit to one.

The sophomore had a silent third quarter, but continued dominating in the final frame. Less than two minutes into the fourth, Guzik extended the Orange’s lead to 8-4 with her fifth goal of the contest, and she found her sixth tally on a player-up opportunity late in the quarter.

Adamson is AWOL

While her senior year was cut short due to a lower-body injury, Adamson cemented herself as a Syracuse icon across four years with the program. She scored 129 goals and added 61 assists during her time with the Orange, including a monumental 2024 campaign in which she propelled SU to the Final Four.

After joining Northwestern last July, she hasn’t skipped a beat with the Wildcats. Adamson began 2026 with 12 goals and five assists through six games, and looked to add to her totals with a statement revenge game Thursday.

But she didn’t get her wish.

Adamson didn’t record a single shot in the first half and committed two turnovers. Whenever she had the ball, a sea of Syracuse defenders swarmed her and gave her little room to operate. Izzy Lahah, who won the ACC’s Defender of the Week award on Mar. 3, forced an early turnover on Adamson and set the tone early in the contest.

With the Wildcats on a player-up advantage five minutes into the final frame, Adamson airmailed a shot to the right corner and couldn’t recover the loose ball. It was an uncharacteristically poor shot for the graduate student.

She ended the night with three turnovers and one shot on goal. Sure, it was an off night for Adamson. But it also showcased how stifling SU’s defense has been through eight games.

Madison went MIA

Taylor has nearly conquered college lacrosse during her four years with the Wildcats.

As previously mentioned, her torrid 109-goal 2025 season set an NCAA record. She was a First Team All-American, a Tewaaraton Award finalist and the Big Ten’s Offensive Player of the Year.

And so far, she’s scored 30 goals in six games this season. But Syracuse had her number the whole way on Thursday.

Taylor didn’t record a shot the entire first half, while the Orange’s defense forced her into turnovers early. Northwestern has routinely relied on Taylor amid its 5-1 start, but SU’s press forced the Wildcats to move the ball around more than they’re accustomed to.

Twelve minutes into the third quarter, Taylor received a clean pass from Lee Munro. Despite handling it with ease, the senior misfired and airmailed the shot, leading to an empty possession. It was emblematic of her entire night — one filled with missed opportunities.

Taylor notched a goal late in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough. Syracuse zeroed in on her all game and — aside from a brief shift in momentum late — held the senior in check.

Strong third quarter

Against Loyola on Feb. 24, Syracuse exploded for seven third-quarter goals. SU led 6-4 at halftime and was still in command, but a dominant third sealed the deal for the Orange’s first win of the season.

Thursday’s third-quarter dominance wasn’t fully reflected on the scoreboard, but SU gave itself adequate breathing room in the frame by blanking the Wildcats. Syracuse played calm, cool and collected, refraining from forcing shots and playing naturally. After the period, the Orange held a 7-4 lead.

First, Mackenzie Rich curved around the net and scored to make it 6-4. It was Rich’s seventh goal of the year and broke a 20-minute scoring drought. Two minutes later, Trinkaus increased SU’s lead to three by making quick work of NU goalie Jenika Cuocco.

Syracuse goalie Daniella Guyette was tested in the frame, but held her own. Northwestern attacked the netminder from a variety of angles, but couldn’t sneak one past Guyette.

The third quarter showed what SU can be when it’s at its best — a well-oiled machine on offense, and a stifling defense that’ll make life miserable for opposing attacks.

Published on March 12, 2026 at 10:19 pm
Contact Spencer: sabrod@syr.edu | @spencerbrod20