4 matches, 4 takeaways: Syracuse women’s soccer’s tactical switch, stars in form
Graduate midfielder Ashley Rauch lines up a pass. Rauch has emerged as a vital offensive threat for SU, scoring four goals in its first four matches. Aaron Hammer | Staff Photographer
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It would be apropos to say Syracuse has opened the 2025 season strongly. Except for a blip against Niagara — where the Orange outshot the Purple Eagles by 24 and notched 13 more corners in a one-goal loss — SU has overpowered every opponent it’s faced.
But that was always supposed to be the case. Syracuse has won 24 games under head coach Nicky Thrasher Adams in her six-year tenure. Twenty-one of them were against nonconference foes.
SU started its season by defeating Charleston Southern, Canisius and Holy Cross by a combined score of 12-1. The Orange have had seven different goal scorers, while star goalkeeper Shea Vanderbosch only made eight saves.
Despite its hot start, SU has yet to face its toughest battle. After going 0-9-1 in conference games last year, there’s a lingering possibility Syracuse can win consistently when it’s the biggest fish in the sea, and not when it squares off against No. 2 Stanford, No. 3 Duke, No. 6 Florida State and reigning national champion North Carolina in the coming weeks.
For now, however, the Orange seem to have a steady blueprint to secure their first Atlantic Coast Conference victory since 2022.
Here are some takeaways from SU’s start to the season:
Formation switch pays dividends
The main switch from last year’s 6-10-2 squad has been its formation. Out went the mix of the 4-3-3, 4-1-4-1 and 4-4-1-1 formations. In came the 3-5-2.
For any team, a back three can be an immediate fix for a leaky defense. After 2024, the Orange desperately needed a remedy. Adams’ squad conceded 30 goals in 18 games — second-worst in the ACC. The only team below them was California, which conceded 31 but offset its poor defensive play by scoring 45. Syracuse scored 21.
Tactically speaking, Syracuse is using concepts from the “Lavolpiana build-up” used by European clubs such as Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City.
Instead of having a defensive midfielder drop in between the two center backs, SU uses its three center backs — Bree Bridges, Jasmine Nixon and Natalie Magnotta — to control possession while passing lanes open up. Bridges holds the deepest position, while Nixon and Magnotta are deployed further up the pitch.
When the ball reaches either Nixon or Magnotta, a triangle of options emerges. The outside center back can play it to the midfielder, or at times to the forward, checking in, the wing back hugging the touchline, or restarting the play by giving it back to Bridges.
And in its opening matchups, SU has had all the time in the world to pick out its passes. The Orange’s fourth goal against Southern Charleston is a prime example.
In the 26th minute, Magnotta received the ball from Bridges. She immediately looked forward and played a pass to Ashley Rauch, who gave it right back. The sophomore then pinged it into Anna Rupert. As soon as she received the ball, the sequence triggered Julia Arbelaez to bomb down the sideline. Rupert dished it to her in space, and the freshman drove to the byline and found Mia Klammer for an easy finish.
Out of possession, the Orange aren’t engaging in an aggressive woman-to-woman press. Instead, they remain in the general vicinity of their counterpart and pounce when they dwindle on the ball. When Buccaneers goalkeeper Avery Mason took too long to play an outlet pass, Rauch pounced for her first goal of the season in the 20th minute.
It’s clear SU’s new formation has already been crucial to its early success.
Joe Zhao | Senior Staff Photographer
Direct service struggles
Syracuse hadn’t beaten Niagara since 1996, SU’s longest winless run against an opponent. There was no better opportunity to break that duck than on Aug. 17 when the Orange played the Purple Eagles.
But poor set-piece defense prolonged SU’s barren run against Niagara.
Eleven minutes into the contest, Mahelie Barbeau played a one-two with Caitlyn Gratton, who Bridges marked. With SU’s sweeper out of position, Barbeau delicately lofted it into SU’s box, where Izzy Schmidt outjumped Nixon and flicked it on for Sarah Lucas to fire it home.
Six minutes later, Barbeau doubled Niagara’s lead after Vanderbosch flapped at Schmidt’s free kick and Magnotta failed to clear, giving the St. Bonaventure transfer a chance she couldn’t miss.
In Sunday’s contest, Holy Cross needed a reply down 2-0 to SU. A foul by Olivia Bozzo gave them a chance. Thirty-five yards out, Riley Grable whipped a tantalizing front-post ball. Olivia Perez leaned forward for the ball but missed. But so did Vanderbosch as it bounced into the net for a Holy Cross goal.
The Orange held off the Crusaders’ late comeback after Rauch scored a penalty. Still, SU needs its back three and goalkeeper to be more commanding when defending direct service into their box to avoid conceding goals.
Klammer, Rauch dominate
Both Mia Klammer and Ashley Rauch have seen their Syracuse careers derailed by injury.
Fresh off an 18-goal, 17-assist sophomore campaign at Division II’s The College of Saint Rose, Klammer, the 2023 D-II Women’s Soccer Player of the Year, was expected to complement Erin Flurey in attack last season. But a knee injury sidelined her for the whole campaign, leading to the Orange’s offensive struggles.
A year after Klammer’s injury, Flurey transferred to Auburn, presumably leaving SU without a top striker for 2025. Yet Klammer has quickly taken Flurey’s mantle by scoring three goals in four games, along with registering one assist. Her blistering pace and tidy finishes make her a real threat against anyone in collegiate soccer.
“It’s a blessing to have (Mia) an extra year. People are starting to see what she’s capable of doing,” Adams said after SU’s win against Canisius. “I think as we evolve into the season, she’s gonna continue to get better and better.”
As a freshman in 2021, Rauch missed 14 games due to a foot injury after scoring her first collegiate goal against Fairleigh Dickinson. Since then, she’s been a significant presence in Adams’ midfield.
The Reston, Virginia, native has started SU’s last 39 games and chipped in 10 goals across three seasons. Rauch’s veteran presence, scoring potential and ability to create chances could be crucial as the season progresses.
One-two punch
Goals in quick succession can change the complexion of a game. SU knows that better than anyone.
After Croyle opened proceedings against Charleston Southern with a header, a 40-second brace from Rauch made it 3-0. Syracuse later wrapped the game up in the first half with goals from Klammer and Bozzo.
“Getting five goals in the first half is something special,” Adams said after the win. “I think once we settled into the game, our forwards’ dynamic runs really opened up space, and we were able to do a lot more.”
Against Canisius, it took 45 seconds for SU to go two in front. Maya McDermott’s tap-in — her first collegiate goal in 39 games — was followed by Kendyl Lauher’s second career score off a long throw-in from Klammer. Soon after, Klammer and Arbelaez all but sealed it in the second half.
In 2024, SU only scored five goals in ACC play. If the Orange can continue their hot scoring form, they have a great chance of upping that number this campaign.
