Syracuse women's lacrosse tops UMass for third straight victory

The Syracuse women’s lacrosse team (3-0, 1-0 in ACC) looked to carry momentum from last weekend’s doubleheader victories over Canisius and Binghamton and did that right away against UMass (1-3). The Orange scored early and pulled away for a 17-8 victory.

In their tenth overall meeting and first since 2006, the Orange jumped to a quick lead on a goal from captain Taylor Gait, her third of the season.

UMass responded quick, bringing a substantial away fan base to their feet. Midfielder Kiley Anderson brought the score to 1-1.

Syracuse continued to lay on the pressure, causing goalie Lauren Hiller to make a reflex save from a shot by Emily Hawryschuk. Hawryschuk responded less than twenty seconds later with her first goal of the game.

The Orange then scored another goal less than two minutes later to make the score 3-1.

UMass brought itself back to within one on a goal from Callie Santos. However, on the following face off Syracuse drove down the field and Alie Jimerson scored her third of the season.

From there, the goals kept coming. Syracuse scored five straight, including two goals from Nicole Levy. SU’s defense also played its part. After a yellow card, the Orange were a player down, but UMass failed to score a goal.

With under a minute remaining in the first half, Anderson added her second to bring the score to 8-3, however it did not last long. Hawryschuk drew a free position shot and took advantage with 21 seconds in the half.

UMass tried to gain momentum at the start of the second with Cerasi scoring in the first two minutes to bring the Minutewomen within five. But, any time UMass scored and tried to claw its way back into the game, the Orange responded.

There was a 6:39 period in the second period where the Orange did not score, however Kelzi Van Atta’s seventh goal of the season broke that drought, bringing the score to 12-6.

With just over ten minutes remaining, Nicole Levy maintained possession of the ball to the side of the goal. She found Gait with a pass ten yards out, who spun around one UMass defender. This move brought audible recognition from the crowd as she ran towards the goal. Avoiding players in her way, she fired her second goal of the game right above the goalie.

One strength of Syracuse were their goals from free position shots. Of the eleven free position shots awarded, Syracuse scored on five of them, including three in the final 20 minutes of play.

Hawryschuk scored three of her four goals from free position shots. She was proud of her play and did what she planned out to do, she said.

Syracuse coach Gary Gait was proud of his team’s performance, a great start to a busy stretch early on in the season.

“It was the most physical game we played all year,” Gait said.

Gait praised the team, despite turning the ball over 25 times.

“I think it was a great opportunity to learn,” Gait said.

Syracuse looks to continue its winning streak against Albany on Feb. 27 at the Carrier Dome. First faceoff is set for 5 p.m.