No. 9 Syracuse squeaks past No. 20 Virginia 6-5 for 7th straight win
In No. 9 Syracuse’s seventh straight win, a 6-5 victory over No. 20 Virginia, it opened strong offensively with five first-half goals. Charlie Hynes | Staff Photographer
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Regy Thorpe knew what was in store for him when he accepted Syracuse’s head coaching job. Matchups with the best teams means matchups with the best players.
No. 3 Maryland boasts a formidable threat in Kori Edmondson, who scored 59 goals last year. The same can be said about No. 1 North Carolina’s Chloe Humphrey, the reigning Tewaaraton Award winner. Or No. 13 Northwestern’s Madison Taylor, the runner-up.
The latest item on the chopping block was Virginia’s Kate Galica, who leads it in goals, ground balls and draw controls. Like the three aforementioned players, she was ranked in the top five of Inside Lacrosse’s preseason player rankings. But they also put forth subpar performances against the Orange.
Galicia was poised to change the narrative Saturday. When she received the ball in optimal position about two and a half minutes into the game, Galica appeared ready. But out came the almighty Daniella Guyette to halt the opportunity, previewing the rocky day she was in for.
No. 9 Syracuse (7-3, 4-2 ACC) beat No. 20 Virginia (5-6, 3-3 ACC) 6-5 Saturday. Galica was held pointless in the second half, watched from afar as the Orange’s offense had five unique scorers, helmed by Molly Guzik’s brace. Meanwhile, SU’s defensive heroics prevailed, marking the fifth straight game its opponent was held to less than seven goals.
“It’s a grinding schedule. It’s a challenging schedule,” Thorpe said. “We prepare for our next opponent, and (our players) switch gears and turn their focus.”
SU couldn’t fixate its energy on its upset over No. 5 Yale Tuesday. Yes, those glories deserve commemoration, but the obstacles the Cavaliers present couldn’t be ignored.
Since Galica entered Saturday doubling Guzik for the season in draw controls, Syracuse would do everything they could to answer her. It’s the same approach the Orange used in dethroning three superior ranked opponents.
So, as Guzik ripped away from Galica with the opening draw, SU flipped doubts on its head. After getting outdone a combined 19-11 against the Bulldogs and Wildcats on the draw, Syracuse won the category 7-6 Saturday.
“Kate’s one of the best in the country,” Thorpe said. “To come out on top by one, that’s a huge bonus for us, and we needed every possession.”
That first possession proved salient, as Guzik set up shop for a Jenna DiNardo foul as she tiptoed the 12-meter fan. Out of free position, the sophomore shuffled a yard forward for the game’s opening goal.
Just over four and a half minutes in, Mackenzie Salentre dropped the ball on a clear attempt, which Madison Alaimo picked up. Alaimo traversed past Courtney Maclay and fired a cross-field pass for Galica to score with Kaci Benoit in her face.
While Galica won the ensuing draw, Syracuse later worked the ball downfield to Mileena Cotter, who was thwarted by Virginia goalie Elyse Finnelle on her first shot of the game.
“Their (defense) played well,” Thorpe said. “They gave us pressured shots, but (we) got to shoot the ball a little bit better.”
That wish was Thorpe’s command. At X, Annie Parker, starting in Ashlee Volpe’s place for the third time this year, fed a cruising Cotter with nylon green turf ahead to shatter the tie with five and a half minutes remaining in the first.
While Galica stuffed the stat sheet with an assist to a surging Jayden Piraino, Parker mirrored the Cavalier star’s line by tacking on her own finish late in the quarter. Sophia Conti tripped the Orange sophomore up, permitting her a free-position opportunity. She buried it for her second goal of the season, giving Syracuse a 3-2 lead.
With Parker and Piraino trading turnovers to start the second, SU jolted to a two-goal advantage early in the frame. Guzik was fouled near Finnelle’s crease, situating her second free-position goal of the day.
It wasn’t always easy, as Syracuse couldn’t earn a three-goal lead in large part due to Finnelle’s 10 saves.
“Elyse did a good job,” Thorpe said. “We shot high-to-high a little bit, low-to-low, and she’ll eat those shots up.”
Just over a minute after Guzik’s second tally, Piraino got hers after Coco Vandiver’s foul triggered a free-position chance. Virginia continued its gush, as Alaimo flung a pass at X over the net to a leaping Galica, rising above Benoit to tie things at four.
The Orange wouldn’t escape the half without a lead, as Guzik flung a meticulous pass across a thin passing window for Volpe to pound home.
SU flipped a defensive switch in the third, holding the Cavaliers scoreless while finding its own opportunities that came up short. But halfway through the frame, Caroline Trinkaus ran the length of the field, weaving through UVA’s defense and locating the bottom-right corner for a 6-4 lead.
With its back against the wall, Virginia was lifeless. DiNardo had an auspicious chance with just over nine minutes to go in the fourth quarter, but hit the post. A minute later, Guyette stopped her for her fourth save of the game.
“I do give a lot of credit to the defense and (Guyette), but also our middies,” Thorpe said. “We run seven middies, and they play good (defense).”
It’s an unorthodox formation, but it works. And while Livy Laverghetta broke the Cavaliers’ drought of just over 31 minutes in the waning minutes, Syracuse never grieved.
Virginia’s lasting memory will be watching Guyette fling the ball into the air as time expired. And Thorpe won’t be one to take any pride for the Cavaliers’ pain.
“Hats off to (SU associate head coach Caitlin Defliese-Watkins), the defense and (SU assistant coach Maggie Koch),” Thorpe said.
