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In the Atlantic Coast Conference, there’s no such thing as an easy draw. Every game presents itself as a toss-up, and it’s impossible to know which direction a game will sway. But Virginia, which SU matched up with in the first round of the conference tournament Wednesday, isn’t one it was likely hoping for. When Syracuse faced the Cavaliers on March 21, it squeaked by with a 6-5 win.

The Orange, coming off a 7-4 loss to Boston College, had to rekindle the spark they had for their previous 12-game winning streak against UVA. Virginia, on a two-game burst with a win over that same BC squad, made things look bleak. But SU got the job done, prevailing 11-9.

Here are some observations from No. 4 seed Syracuse’s (13-4, 7-3 ACC) victory over No. 5 seed Virginia (8-9, 6-4 ACC) in the ACC Tournament Quarterfinals Wednesday:

There’s no answer

Virginia took one shot in the first quarter. It resulted in a goal just a minute and a half into play. After that, the Cavaliers were held without a shot for the rest of the frame.

It’s known just how dominant Syracuse’s defense is. It entered Wednesday with the fifth-ranked unit in the nation, and its lethal pair of Coco Vandiver and Izzy Lahah, who both entered with over 40 caused turnovers, are enough to silence most teams.

Add in All-ACC First Team goalie Daniella Guyette, Kaci Benoit and Mackenzie Salentre on the outside, and opponents are still searching for an answer. Spoiler alert: there isn’t one. The Cavaliers were doomed by self-inflicted wounds Wednesday, turning the ball over 16 times.

But some of it wasn’t self-inflicted, and players like Lahah — who picked up three takeaways — deserve the credit. In the first quarter, Lahah broke inside for a massive turnover on UVA’s Jenna Dinardo, pushing it upfield for an Emma Muchnick score on the other side. That goal gave Syracuse a 3-1 lead, an advantage it didn’t lose for the rest of the game.

Yes, it didn’t lead to a goal, but Vandiver’s ground ball pickup at the end of the first quarter was just as, if not more, impactful than Lahah’s strip. With 50 seconds left in the frame and UVA up a player, Vandiver scooped up a loose ball, killing the advantage and entering the second quarter with possession.

Through 30 minutes, UVA had 10 turnovers to SU’s seven. The trend continued into the back half of the game.

Virginia’s first possession of the second half resulted in a turnover, which Alexa Vogelman converted on the other end for her seventh goal of the year. Although UVA won five draws in the third quarter following Vogelman’s score, SU’s defense held firm to take a 9-5 lead into the final frame.

The Orange’s defense had to do what they’d done all game to hold on. It was never going to be easy, with Virginia fighting for its life. And it definitely wasn’t, as UVA scored four fourth-quarter goals. But SU completed the mission, keeping its tournament run alive.

Peters’ prowess

Bri Peters doesn’t quite get the attention she deserves. She entered Wednesday with goals in four of her last five games, and it didn’t take long for the sophomore midfielder to make her presence felt versus UVA. Peters scored just six minutes in and finished with two goals, her first-career multi-goal game.

It’s hard not to feel some sort of sympathy for Virginia’s defense. Syracuse’s offense hasn’t been anything too remarkable this year, but its amount of reliable options, as seen with Muchnick’s four goals, Molly Guzik’s three and one score each from Vogelman and Courtney Maclay.

Peters’ first goal of the afternoon, SU’s second of the game, came on a lofty feed from Ashlee Volpe at the left goal line extended. Volpe found a cutting Peters, who, after one pump fake, unloaded a shot into the net’s bottom right corner.

Thirteen minutes later, Peters was back on the attack. The Orange led 3-2, but Virginia had just cut the deficit with a Livy LaVerghetta score. Caroline Trinkaus, from the right goal line extended, similarly connected with Peters crashing toward the crease. One motion was enough to fool UVA goalie Elyse Finnelle.

While Peters was held off the scoresheet for the remainder of the game, her first-half performance boosted Syracuse’s lead, which it never relinquished in the second half.

Muchnick’s 1st half

Syracuse’s versatility was on full display with Muchnick. She added a season-high four goals to pair with Peters’ two. It was far too much for UVA to handle, but it wasn’t necessarily unexpected. Muchnick had been in this spot two times before. And she’d succeeded with little issues, scoring four goals in last year’s postseason and four the year prior.

The playoffs are second nature to SU’s senior midfielder. She said Monday that, even after being drafted into the Women’s Lacrosse League, her full focus remains on reaching the mountain top with the Orange this year.

On Wednesday, courtesy of her first-half hat trick and one second-half goal, Syracuse is one step closer. Muchnick started SU’s scoring, with the midfielder ripping nylon on an 8-meter shot 45 seconds after Megan Rocklein’s game-opening goal.

From there, it was Muchnick versus UVA. She effortlessly scored the final goal of the first quarter, receiving a feed from Mackenzie Rich at X as she streaked inside. Muchnick wrapped around Virginia defender Alexandra Schneider inside before squeezing her shot between Finnelle and the right post.

Muchnick ended the first half the same way she started it. This one was far simpler. She lined up along the 8-meter arc for her second free-position try. Muchnick’s shot split the legs of Finnelle, capping a three-goal SU run.

Like Peters, Muchnick was more limited in the final 30 minutes. She scored one goal at the end of the third quarter. It was a big one for sure, but her first half kept Syracuse from a severe collapse.

Momentum shifted

All of a sudden, in the second half, the game was in Virginia’s hands. Ignore the scoreboard, which had the Orange leading by multiple goals. In all honesty, UVA had the momentum, and if it kept it up, it’d likely come away with a win.

The Cavaliers entered the fourth quarter with eight of the last nine draw wins, and Galica immediately cut Syracuse’s lead to three goals 17 seconds into the frame with a screamer inside.

Enter Maclay. She’d been quiet for most of the season, but her eight goals in the 2025 NCAA Tournament with Stony Brook showed she can handle pressure in the playoffs. Maclay scored just over a minute after Galica’s goal, and on the other end, she corralled a key ground ball to halt a UVA possession.

Guzik opened the fourth quarter with two straight draw wins, a rarity after entering the quarter at an 11-6 deficit. The Cavaliers still punished the Orange with three of the quarter’s first four goals, cutting SU’s lead to two, the smallest since the second quarter.

By then, the momentum had fully shifted. With just over five minutes to go, Virginia capped a three-goal run to cut Syracuse’s advantage to one. Giving the ball to Muchnick and winning a draw seemed like SU’s only chance at avoiding a remarkable loss.

Instead, Muchnick and Guzik connected for a game-saving score. With 2:30 left, Joely Caramelli snared the ball from Finnelle’s stick. Muchnick scooped it up and fed Guzik, who finished moments later to restore Syracuse’s two-goal lead. The Orange then hung on for the win.

Published on April 22, 2026 at 4:31 pm
Contact Jordan: jordankimball28@gmail.com | @JordanKimball_