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fter a 10-9 2025 campaign and a second-round exit in the NCAA Tournament last May, Syracuse women’s lacrosse underwent significant change.
The Orange lost head coach Kayla Treanor just 10 days after being eliminated, when she suddenly announced she was accepting the head coaching position at Penn State. Then, SU lost star attack Olivia Adamson and draw control specialist Meghan Rode to the transfer portal, while points leader Emma Ward graduated.
But, with the hiring of new head coach Regy Thorpe, Syracuse has made it abundantly clear that the expectation remains the same: playing on Championship Weekend. SU boasted one of the youngest rosters in Division I last season, and — aside from Ward — returns most of its production on both ends of the field. The Orange also added four players in the transfer portal to replenish their depth.
Here’s how our beat writers think Syracuse will fare in 2026:
Jordan Kimball
Don’t sleep
Record: 11-5 (7-3 ACC)
MVP: Emma Muchnick
X-Factor: Mileena Cotter
The key for Syracuse’s new-look squad is taking one game at a time and catching fire when it’s least expected. With the departures of Ward and Adamson — who combined for 284 goals and 230 assists — the weight is heavier than ever on SU’s young core to pick up the pieces.
But there’s nothing to worry about. Some college lacrosse fans are probably sleeping on the Orange this upcoming season. This is your formal notice not to. Falling flat in the NCAA Tournament Second Round — as Syracuse did last year — is nothing to be ashamed of. Losing seven games in the regular season isn’t either. But based on SU’s winning pedigree, it’s inevitable the program will return to its elite status.
With Caroline Trinkaus stepping into her sophomore season and Emma Muchnick returning for year No. 3 at SU, Ward and Adamson’s prior production will be replicated. Mileena Cotter, who showed up in the clutch, will play a key role on Syracuse’s thin attack in her second year.
Aside from those three, I see defenders Coco Vandiver and Kaci Benoit continuing to stifle opposing offenses, even on a tough slate that features nine USA Lacrosse top-20 squads. Last year was a down year. Syracuse knows what it takes to win, though, and after suffering its most losses since 2018, the Orange will reassert their national relevance in 2026.
Harris Pemberton
Growing pains
Record: 9-7 (6-4 ACC)
MVP: Emma Muchnick
X-Factor: Caroline Trinkaus
There’s a lot to like about this Syracuse squad in Thorpe’s inaugural season. The Orange were one of the youngest teams in the country last season, and, while SU went just 10-9, there were key indications that SU’s young core has what it takes to uphold the high expectations placed upon this program.
One of those young stars is my selection for this year’s X-Factor — sophomore attack Trinkaus, who ranked second on SU with 43 points on 32 goals last season. With the departure of Adamson and Ward, she’s now Syracuse’s go-to player in the attack. The Orange’s fate may rely on whether or not she can evolve into one of the nation’s most lethal goalscorers.
She’ll have some help from midfielder Muchnick, who provides some much-needed familiarity to this roster. The preseason second-team All-American scored a team-high 34 goals last season and is likely one of just a handful of seniors that’ll be in the starting lineup in eight days’ time. The Orange will ride and die through her this season.
In my mind, the question isn’t whether this Syracuse team is talented enough to make a deep run — it certainly has the firepower to do so. And the addition of Thorpe is a home run hire. The only thing that prevents me from being as optimistic as Jordan and Jason is the strength of this schedule.
The Orange face nine teams in USA Lacrosse’s preseason top 20, including six teams in the top eight. That proved to be an issue last season, even when SU had a clear-cut offensive star in Ward. I can’t quite see a 10-win season for the Orange this year, but I expect it to be a step in the right direction to begin the Thorpe era.
Jason Glick
Nothing new
Record: 10-6 (6-4 ACC)
MVP: Emma Muchnick
X-Factor: Lexi Reber
Per usual, Syracuse was dealt a gauntlet of a schedule, especially early on. Last year, the Orange won their first three games — two were against unranked teams — by at least six goals each. That gave SU room for error before it faced both of the NCAA Championship finalists.
Syracuse doesn’t have that luxury this year. It starts with three top-10 opponents in Inside Lacrosse’s preseason rankings. That’s not great for momentum, but I do expect the Orange to find a rhythm and in a loaded ACC.
Thorpe was a hard-nosed, defensive-minded long pole for the Orange. That’s where my X-Factor pick, Lexi Reber, comes in. I think he can mold her into a premier defender in the conference. People may forget she was the No. 14 recruit in 2024 before a season-ending foot injury sidelined her.
On the other end, the most important tasks are replacing Ward and Adamson. I expect statistical progression all around, especially from Muchnick and Trinkaus, who are capable of scoring 40 goals each.
The Orange need to resolve their questions quickly. There probably won’t be a leash on Daniella Guyette, but she didn’t deliver steady play last year. SU also only suffered 11.36 goals against per game, which was just eighth-best in the ACC. Also, with doubt at the draw, top freshman Mackenzie Borbi could give SU its long-term answer.
Photograph by Leonardo Eriman | Senior Staff Photographer
Published on January 29, 2026 at 12:01 am