Storylines from SU’s 6 matches: Naimoli’s excellent start, formation tweaks
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It’s too early to truly judge if 2026 will be different for Syracuse women’s soccer. Head coach Nicky Thrasher Adams and Co. haven’t faced their biggest test yet — Atlantic Coast Conference play — where they’re just 4-55-7 since 2019.
Since their last postseason appearance in 2012, the Orange have consistently dominated nonconference opponents before faltering in ACC action. Last season was no different, as Syracuse went 4-1-3 in nonconference play and 1-8-1 in conference.
But after retooling its roster, SU’s had a solid start to 2026, sitting 3-1-2 through six games. It’s had three-goal showings against Holy Cross and Princeton along with shutouts against Villanova, Northwestern and Harvard.
New faces Vickie Jones and Farrah Stephens-Martin have stepped up offensively, while Youngstown State transfer Maya Naimoli has shined in net.
Here are some takeaways from Syracuse’s (3-1-2, 0-0-0 ACC) first six games:
Maya Naimoli quells goalie concerns
It took less than a game for Adams to find her next star goalie.
Naimoli made her first start in SU’s season-opener against Villanova. With the game tied 0-0 late, Naimoli stretched her left leg to make a stellar kick save on Dez Zapata’s potential game-winner. Naimoli made four second-half saves in the draw, cementing herself as SU’s clear-cut starter.
It was a welcome sight for Syracuse, which entered the season with serious goalie concerns. Shea Vanderbosch, SU’s program-saves leader (380), graduated after four years anchoring the Orange.
Naimoli posted clean sheets in Syracuse’s two exhibition games, but freshman Lindsay Parker, returner Lilly Heaslet and Houston transfer Maggie Manning competed with her. Aside from Manning starting against Niagara when Naimoli rested, the competition was short-lived.
A week after her masterful SU debut, Naimoli recorded a clean sheet and two saves at Northwestern. But Naimoli’s most prolific outing came in a 3-0 win over Princeton, where she saved five shots against a fast-paced Tigers attack.
Syracuse goalie Maya Naimoli kicks a ball in SU’s scoreless draw with Harvard on Aug. 30. Naimoli has excelled in net, replacing all-time saves leader Shea Vanderbosch. Eli Schwartz | Asst. Photo Editor
Her reward was an ACC Goalkeeper of the Week honor on Aug. 25. It was the Orange’s first weekly honor since Courtney Brosnan won Co-ACC Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 11, 2016.
“Maya is playing like a veteran, like she’s been here forever,” Adams said after SU’s victory over Princeton. “Her aspirations are to be a pro, so we’re trying to put her in that environment to play like a pro and manage her team like a pro.”
Through five starts, Naimoli’s 94.7% save rate and 3.6 saves per game rank third in the ACC. Goalie coach Michele Barletta has eased Naimoli’s transition after working with her at Youngstown State.
“He does a really good job of session planning and making sure to isolate not only the big areas of the game but also the little nitpicking areas,” Naimoli said.
Jones, Incorvaia, Stephens-Martin shine offensively
After scoring the fifth-fewest goals (22) in the ACC last season, Syracuse’s offense lost key players Mia Klammer, Ashley Rauch and Maya McDermott, who scored 15 of SU’s 22 goals.
While the unit has been inconsistent through six games, Abby Incorvaia, Jones and Stephens-Martin have emerged as cornerstones.
Incorvaia appeared in all 18 games as a freshman but never played over 31 minutes nor scored on seven shots. She’s broken out with increased playing time as a sophomore, tallying two goals and six points in five starts.
The sophomore’s breakout began in epic fashion with a game-winning penalty kick in the final minute against Northwestern. Three days later against Princeton, she tallied a goal and assist.
“Scoring at a stage like this is incredible,” Incorvaia said after beating Princeton. “I have my teammates around me, and the feeling is unmatched.”
Jones has been a pleasant surprise after transferring from Michigan. Though injuries limited her to one goal in four years there, she leads Syracuse with three goals in her graduate season.
The 22-year-old scored twice in SU’s 3-1 win over Holy Cross. Her first goal was the Orange’s first of 2026 while her second came on a penalty kick.
Jones netted another penalty kick against Princeton — SU’s 10th consecutive made attempt — slotting the ball into the left corner.
“Vickie is one of the most mature players on the team,” Adams said after SU’s draw with Harvard Sunday.
Stephens-Martin only has one goal, but she’s showcased blazing speed up top. While her minutes decreased recently, she’s been a major reason for Syracuse’s faster pace offensively.
“I thought attacking-wise, good decisions on when to take players on, when to slow it down,” Adams said of Stephens-Martin’s goal against Princeton. “The goal was a fantastic little ball over the top. Great finish.”
Switch from 3-5-2 to 4-5-1 formation
Another year, another formation switch.
In 2024, SU rotated between 4-3-3, 4-4-1-1 and 4-1-4-1 formations. Last year, it shifted to a 3-5-2, with Jasmine Nixon, Natalie Magnotta and Bree Bridges anchoring its back line.
But after conceding the sixth-most goals (26) in the ACC last season, Adams switched to a 4-5-1 against Northwestern, adding a defender and subtracting a forward.
“We felt if we change formation, it’s going to give us a bit more stability in behind,” Adams said after the Princeton game. “It gives us the ability to manage the roster a bit better.”
Syracuse’s defense featured Nixon, Bridges and Oklahoma State transfer Chloe Joseph in its 3-5-2 before adding Kendall Mesh in the 4-5-1. Mesh started SU’s last four games, stabilizing a revamped back line.
In a downpour against Princeton, Nina Cantor — one of the Tigers’ top scorers in 2025 — whipped a cross into SU’s box. Mesh immediately pounced, lunging her left leg at the ball to clear it out of bounds.
Following the Princeton win, Adams called Mesh her “pit bull viper assassin.”
While it’s difficult to fully determine the formation’s success until SU plays ACC juggernauts, three shutouts in four games is an encouraging start.
