It's a new and a new team, according to No. 3 Syracuse's Kayla Treanor.
The third-best scorer in team history, Alyssa Murray, is now an assistant coach at Michigan. Also gone from last year's national runner-up are Katie Webster (now a volunteer assistant at SU), midfielder Amy Cross, goalkeeper Alyssa Costantino and defenders Natalie Glanell, Kasey Mock and Liz Harbeson.
But on Saturday, the Orange proved it's still one of the favorites to win the national title.
Treanor scored seven total goals, and Maryland transfer Halle Majorana added 10 points as SU rolled to 18-10 and 21-13 victories over No. 19 Denver and Canisius, respectively. The Orange has now won 12 season-opening games and eight under head coach Gary Gait.
"Just a great effort from a team that opened up against a top-20 opponent in the morning and comes back against a conference champion and another NCAA team," Gait said.
The first game was never in doubt, as Treanor proved why she is once again a Tewaaraton Trophy favorite. After Lisa Rogers scored the first goal of the new season only 1:16 into the contest, Treanor one-upped her teammate by spinning around a defender and netting her first tally minutes later.
Once SU built a 9-3 lead by the half, Treanor took over in the second period. Using an array of shuffle steps around the net, she converted for three easy goals.
The other standout was Maryland transfer Halle Majorana, whose cuts to the middle of the eight-meter arc produced three goals. After scoring four additional goals in the second game, it appears Majorana is the heir to Murray's scoring load.
"You just get chills walking out onto the field with all your teammates behind you." Majorana said. "It was awesome to have a second opportunity to play at such a great school."
The second game was more difficult, as Canisius stayed within three of the Orange heading into the break. However, a five-point second half by freshman attack Riley Donahue allowed SU to pull away and play its subs off the bench.
Gait joked that the 41 players that officially checked into the game must be an NCAA record.
"I think we're pretty happy with the lineup the way it is," he said. "Obviously, we may tweak here and there, make some adjustments. We'll get more opportunity next week to play a couple more games."
With players like Brenna Rainone and Taylor Poplawski at new positions and a number of underclassmen in more prevalent roles, there will likely be growing pains as the season continues. But based on Saturday's performance, coach and players are confident thet will be easy to overcome.
"It's a different team and a different offense," Treanor said. "New year, and I think it's just taking it one game at a time."
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