SU women’s soccer drops ACC opener to BC for 7th straight loss vs. Eagles
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Zero Atlantic Coast Conference wins in 2023. Zero in 2024. One against a lowly Miami squad in 2025. Throughout head coach Nicky Thrasher Adams’ tenure, Syracuse has been abysmal in conference play, posting a 4-56-7 record over eight seasons.
But when asked about whether SU could break that trend in 2026, Gabby Wisbeck didn’t mince words.
“I know we will succeed,” Wisbeck told The Daily Orange.
Perhaps a revamped roster, with six freshmen and eight transfers, could change Syracuse’s fortunes. Perhaps a revamped coaching staff, with the additions of Brian Dunleavy and Michele Barletta, could steer SU in the right direction.
But it was the same old Syracuse Sunday. The Orange (3-3-2, 0-1-0 ACC) dropped their ACC opener to Boston College (8-0-0, 1-0-0 ACC) Sunday behind a lethargic offense and inconsistent defense. Maya Naimoli allowed a season-high two goals, and Syracuse was outshot 14-6 by the Eagles in the 2-0 defeat.
SU scored just five goals in 10 ACC games last season. Stout defenses overpowered the Orange’s feeble attack, and they scored over one goal just once.
To avoid a repeat performance, Thrasher Adams aggressively attacked the transfer portal. She lured in Michigan transfer Vickie Jones and UConn transfer Farrah Stephens-Martin, among others.
Yet from the get-go, SU’s top scoring threats were silenced.
Jones, who leads Syracuse with three goals after playing sparingly at Michigan, couldn’t find gaps in Boston College’s defense. She rarely facilitated SU’s offense and didn’t get any quality scoring looks.
So, Syracuse had to look elsewhere for offense.
Four minutes in, SU had its first corner kick opportunity. Jasmine Nixon had a solid shot on goal, but BC goalie Olivia Shippee saved it.
Three and a half minutes later, the Eagles’ Ashley Roberts tested Naimoli with a rapid shot, but SU’s netminder was well-prepared and made a strong foot save. But midfielder Georgina Clarke grabbed the rebound and scored to put BC up 1-0.
Despite Syracuse’s defense allowing the goal, its backline largely kept BC in check early. Sophie Reale zoomed downfield and into scoring position, but Natalie Magnotta, making her first start of 2026, tackled Reale to halt her chance of capitalizing.
Bree Bridges, who hasn’t missed a minute of action all season, excelled early on Sunday. The sophomore used her right foot to deny BC another scoring opportunity in the first half.
Looking to capture momentum midway through the first, SU had another corner in the 23rd minute. Abby Incorvaia’s attempt was cleared by Boston College, but the ball remained in Syracuse’s attacking third. Wisbeck sent the Orange’s ensuing corner in, but it was deflected and didn’t amount to anything.
Ali Howard, another transfer Thrasher Adams added to retool SU’s offense, nearly notched the equalizer with eight seconds left in the half. Her shot sailed wide left, and Syracuse entered halftime down 1-0.
The Orange entered the second half looking to do something they hadn’t since Oct. 10, 2019: win an ACC game after trailing.
Thirteen minutes into the second half, that hope faded.
Reale stormed down the field alone, glided past Kendall Mesh and Chloe Joseph and laced a left-footed shot on Naimoli. SU’s keeper had no chance at the save, and the Eagles doubled their lead.
With Syracuse in desperation mode, penalties started to pile up. Howard received a yellow card after tackling BC’s Amalia Dray. Dray took the ball from Howard after SU’s forward was on the move, and Howard tackled her while trying to get it back.
Two minutes after Howard’s yellow card, Syracuse tacked on another. This time it was Incorvaia, who was called for unsportsmanlike conduct in the 68th minute.
SU finished the game with 12 fouls to the Eagles’ eight. Syracuse’s discipline was also an issue in its Sept. 3 loss to Binghamton, when it committed 15 fouls.
The Orange showed little fight after the penalties. They looked checked out and took few risks offensively.
Bridges, one of SU’s lone standouts Sunday, tried cutting its deficit in half with a late second-half header. But Shippee didn’t have to think much on the save.
And instead of racing down the field to score in the final minutes, Syracuse played passively — just as it had all game.
Wisbeck can still be correct. Syracuse has nine more ACC games to flip its fortunes. But she would probably agree Sunday was a suboptimal start.
