Syracuse Women’s Lacrosse Tops Army for First Victory of Season
The Syracuse women's team clinched their inaugural victory of the season and first inside the JMA Wireless Dome with a resounding win over Army, boasting a final scoreline of 18-7. Demonstrating a marked improvement from their previous encounter against top-ranked Northwestern, the Orange stormed out of the gates with an electrifying start, notching the game's first four goals courtesy of four different players.
As the late first quarter unfolded, Army managed to break onto the scoring sheet, but Syracuse maintained a commanding lead, surging ahead 7-1 after executing an impressive three-goal streak. Key contributors in the first quarter included #6 Payton Rowley, #15 Natalie Smith, and #49 Maddy Baxter, each netting a pair of goals, setting the stage for a dominant first-half performance.
Heading into halftime with a commanding 13-3 lead, Syracuse showcased their prowess, seizing control of the game from the opening whistle. The scoring barrage continued in the second half, led by standout performers such as #6 Payton Rowley and #15 Natalie Smith, who each tallied three goals, along with #44 Emma Ward and #49 Maddy Baxter, who chipped in with two goals apiece.
Syracuse's offensive onslaught was further highlighted by their superior shot count, outshooting Army 18 to 5 in the opening half. Despite Army's resurgence with back-to-back goals in the third quarter, the Orange maintained a comfortable lead at 13-5.
In the later half of the game, the pace slowed down, and Syracuse found themselves challenged to replicate their dominant performance from the first half. Despite this, they managed to maintain their lead and extend it to 16-6 with just five minutes left in the fourth quarter, securing a decisive victory. Reflecting on the game, #45 Bianca Chevarie emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum throughout the entirety of the match, especially with a tough opponent like #9 Maryland on the horizon.
“I think our team strives off of energy," said Chevarie. "We have a saying we love to say, whether it's the start of the game or the start of each quarter, we make the first stop, we make the first goal, and we win the first draw, so keeping that competitive edge throughout the whole game will be huge for us.”
With their sights set on their upcoming matchup against #9 Maryland, Syracuse remains focused on sustaining their competitive spirit and energy levels. The game is scheduled to take place on Saturday inside the JMA Dome at noon.