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It wasn’t a strenuous task. All Syracuse needed to secure the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament’s No. 3 seed was eight goals against Boston College. The Orange eclipsed double digits in their previous five games.

But everything that could go wrong did. Every SU frailty hidden throughout its 12-game winning streak was exposed. The Eagles limited the Orange to a season-low four goals and four draw controls.

Syracuse’s imbalanced offense was suppressed. Questions intensified for a draw cohort lacking success for two seasons. The backline held firm, but it didn’t matter — the offense couldn’t match it.

That defeat dropped the Orange to the ACC Tournament’s No. 4 seed, setting up a potential semifinal matchup with No. 1 seed North Carolina. Had SU defeated BC, it would’ve faced an inferior opponent. Now, its path to the conference’s apex gets windier, beginning with a quarterfinals matchup with No. 5 seed Virginia Wednesday.

Here’s how far our beat writers foresee No. 4 seed Syracuse (12-4, 7-3 ACC) surviving in the ACC Tournament:

Jordan Kimball
Room temp
Finish: Semifinals

Minutes after Syracuse fell to Boston College, SU head coach Regy Thorpe said the Orange had to “crank up” the intensity. On Monday, when asked what Syracuse had to do specifically, SU’s first-year head coach said: “We gotta heat up.” Take that as you will. It falls well short of a definitive answer.

Regardless of what Thorpe is pinpointing, the Orange stand little chance against North Carolina in the ACC Tournament Semifinals. They’ll scrape past Virginia, but the Tar Heels are a rung above them, and SU will exit its conference tournament with a room-temperature performance.

Thorpe’s been asked multiple times since the BC defeat whether that loss can be a blessing in disguise. It doesn’t matter what he says. Facing a team like North Carolina, which has only improved since SU met it two months ago, demands perfection. Syracuse, coming off its first loss in 13 games, is as far away from the necessary level as it was then.

Defending Tewaaraton winner Chloe Humphrey’s nation-leading 79 goals and UNC’s fourth-best scoring defense will cause trouble. It’s not an if, rather a when.

And that’s the throughline of the Orange’s season. Their flaws will come to light. The draws finally bit them against BC. Their immunity in close games ran out against the Eagles, too. And versus the Tar Heels, SU will be fighting to stay afloat. Thorpe wants the Orange to heat up. Against North Carolina, though, the temperature drops.

Harris Pemberton
Immovable object
Finish: Semifinals

It’s pretty ridiculous that a team can enter the postseason as the No. 6 squad in the nation and be the No. 4 seed in its own conference. But alas, that’s what comes with being a top dog in the ACC, like Syracuse.

For how good the Orange have been this year, the BC loss discouraged me a bit, seeing how SU’s attack — and its 12-game winning streak — came to a complete halt in a game Thorpe said had a “playoff atmosphere.” Well, if that’s how the Orange compete in a playoff atmosphere, that’s not a good sign.

I’ll drink the Kool-Aid for Round 1. Virginia is a tough matchup, especially for SU’s draw takers, who seem to deal with a new stud in the circle each week. Kate Galica is one of the best in the nation and won’t be easy to beat for a second time. Nonetheless, I think Syracuse’s defense is too good to allow the Orange to bow out in the first round.

Then, if SU gains some momentum against the Cavaliers, it’ll likely meet the immovable object that is No. 1 North Carolina in the second round. This almost feels like when Jordan and I predicted Syracuse women’s basketball’s NCAA Tournament Second Round matchup against UConn this year. No matter how good they’ve been this season, it’s just hard to see the Orange overcoming the best team in the country.

Of course, Syracuse has shown it can at least push the Tar Heels to the brink. But contending with UNC is one thing. Actually beating it is another.

I see Syracuse exiting in the semifinals to a worthy opponent. But the tournament is a key chance for SU to snag some more momentum before the NCAA Tournament.

Jason Glick
Tar Heel State
Finish: Semifinals

Boston College exposed every Syracuse flaw Thursday. When Molly Guzik draws double teams, it seems nobody steps up as a shooter. Consequently, the Orange hold the conference’s third-lowest scoring offense. The draw’s also been a weakness all year, and it finally harmed the Orange on the scoreboard.

With that being said, SU can overcome these deficiencies through stifling defense. A month ago, the Orange blanked Virginia for over half a game, surrendered five goals and quieted Galica. That tells me all I need to know about this quarterfinal matchup, which Syracuse should take closely but comfortably.

Still, top-seeded North Carolina should handle business against No. 8 seed Duke to trigger a matchup with SU should it dispatch UVA. The Tar Heels run the Tar Heel State, playing the tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina, and that should continue Friday if they draw the Orange.

Syracuse can compete with UNC like it did earlier this year, but it only played three quarters of close lacrosse. Thorpe is searching for a full 60 minutes, and I don’t think the Orange can achieve that against the reigning national champions.

UNC has triumphed in 35 of its last 36 games, and Humphrey is too tactful of a presence to handle, no matter how you try to mitigate her. Not to mention North Carolina’s defense is just as blistering, if not feistier than SU’s.

If Syracuse somehow escapes the Tar Heels, it proved it can’t compete with teams on the other side like Stanford and BC. The Orange are a long way away from conquering the ACC’s Goliath.

Published on April 21, 2026 at 10:47 pm