No. 11 Syracuse field hockey begins ACC play with 3-0 upset over No. 9 UVA
Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our sports newsletter here.
Syracuse and Virginia have always played each other close.
Sixteen of the 21 all-time meetings between the programs have been decided by one goal, including two shootouts in the last two years. Since their first game in 1993, an overtime or shootout has crowned a winner seven times.
Virginia is 17-4 all-time against the Orange. Last season, Virginia defeated Syracuse twice, including a 3-2 shootout victory in the ACC semifinal. Entering Friday, Virginia only had one home loss against SU ever.
That didn’t matter Friday. Syracuse had other plans.
No. 11 SU (6-1, 1-0 Atlantic Coast) downed No. 9 UVA (5-3, 1-2 ACC) 3-0 in its first ACC game of 2026. The Orange capitalized on two penalty corners and Jessie Eiselin saved six shots to secure the shutout victory.
Syracuse was tested before its ACC opener, playing five straight road games to start its season. SU also boasts power conference experience, playing Ohio State and Rutgers, the latter giving the Orange their only loss of the season in a shootout.
Virginia played its conference opener last weekend, getting shut out by No. 8 Duke before defeating then-No. 11 North Carolina for its first conference win.
Friday was a battle between a relentless offense and a strong defense. Syracuse ranks 10th in the nation in goals per game, averaging 3.5. Virginia ranks 21st in goals against, giving up only 1.27 goals a game.
Syracuse started the game controlling possession while UVA’s defense passively sat back and waited for mistakes. When they saw an opportunity, the Cavaliers pounced and took the ball in transition, forcing SU goalie Jessie Eiselin to make an early save by raising her glove to meet a high shot.
It didn’t take long for Virginia to make a mistake, as Preseason All-ACC team member Mary Adams picked up a green card just under six minutes in. SU won an APC shortly after, where Virginia native Sammie Goin rifled a shot from the edge of the circle from the insert by Aubrey Turner, giving the Orange a 1-0 lead in the first quarter.
Almost immediately after the goal, the Cavaliers turned up the aggression tenfold. UVA dominated possession – something it continued to do for the rest of the contest – but couldn’t find any quality looks as Syracuse’s defense congested the circle.
Much of the second quarter happened in the midfield. Virginia’s defense once again took shape and prevented Syracuse from advancing deep into the Cavaliers’ half. The Orange occasionally strung together precise passing sequences, but could never break the defense’s discipline. Virginia mainly succeeded, holding the Orange to only one shot in the second quarter while shooting four.
However, Virginia got too comfortable in front of its goal. With just over three minutes remaining in the half, UVA’s Lauren Sloan attempted a pass across the net. Like a lion stalking its prey, Aubrey Turner surveyed the situation and planned her attack, stealing the ball a couple yards in front of the cage and finishing the play with a spin and score. The scoreboard ticked down and Syracuse entered the half with a commanding 2-0 lead.
Trying to close the gap, the Cavaliers started the second half aggressively. Syracuse recognized UVA’s early desperation, with Belle Van de Pas drawing a foul by cutting in front of a Virginia player who knocked her over.
Virginia kept challenging Eiselin, who made a crucial save after UVA’s press ended in a steal. Syracuse’s defense didn’t falter, but its offense suffered from the emphasis on defense, netting only one shot for the second straight quarter.
With under five minutes left in the third, the Cavaliers earned back-to-back APCs. On the second, Mia Abello lined up to shoot, but missed wide left. Syracuse continued making its case as the best DPC unit in the country, with opponents scoring on only one of 54 attempts.
The Cavaliers started the fourth quarter with another APC and another missed shot. The ball was fired into Abello, who snuck it back to Sloan. Another crucial chance for Virginia didn’t amount to anything.
While the third was highlighted by SU’s defense, the Orange didn’t limit themselves in the fourth. Syracuse occasionally found space to counter, and even had a scrum right in front of the Cavaliers’ goal, but couldn’t finish it off.
Instead, Syracuse earned its third corner of the contest and didn’t waste the opportunity. Jess Liddell received the ball from Turner and fired it into the mix. The ball found another Virginia native in Karsin Beatty, who deflected the shot into the top right corner of the cage, putting SU up 3-0.
Virginia tried holding on, pulling its keeper with under two minutes remaining and earning an impressive three APC’s in the waning seconds, but it didn’t matter. Syracuse entered looking to make a statement and walked out with its first road win over UVA ever.
Despite only having six shots compared to Virginia’s 14, the Orange got high-quality looks that ended with a 50% conversion rate. Syracuse also proved it can convert on APC’s without former star Bo van Kempen, scoring on two penalty corners in each of its last two games.
Syracuse has many more difficult ACC tests this season. But Friday was quite the encouraging start, likely its most impressive win of 2026.
