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Syracuse is off to a blistering start in 2025. Despite losing many key faces across the board, the Orange got out to a 2-0 start prior to their game with Cornell Tuesday.

In its season opener, SU easily dispatched UAlbany 21-9. Emma Ward and Olivia Adamson combined for 11 points, and freshmen Caroline Trinkaus, Mileena Cotter and Molly Guzik pitched in three each.

Eight days later, the Orange hit the road for their first ranked matchup of the year against then-No. 7 Maryland. Despite struggles on the draw control, which saw Adamson sub in for Meghan Rode, SU rode a dominant first half to a 15-9 victory. Daniella Guyette was superb in net — recording 11 saves on 20 shots — and Trinkaus posted her first career hat trick.

SU returned home for its next contest versus the Big Red Tuesday. Despite Cornell taking an early 2-1 lead, the Orange embarked on an 11-3 run to close the first half up 12-5. Adamson tied for the team lead with five points, helping SU remain undefeated.

Here are some observations from No. 4 Syracuse’s (3-0, 0-0 Atlantic Coast) 18-10 win over Cornell (1-1, 0-0 Ivy League):

Syracuse’s strong 1st-half finish

In Syracuse’s first two games, it had strong starts. Against UAlbany, it led 8-2 after one quarter. Versus Maryland, it was up 5-1 eight minutes in. Despite facing a Cornell team that finished under .500 in two straight years, it struggled mightily to start Tuesday.

On its first possession, Adamson’s shot was saved by goalie Ellie Horner. In response, Cornell’s Ella Wilmot scored from close range, putting it up 1-0 early. Cotter tied the game 1-1, but numerous turnovers led to Cornell taking a 2-1 lead right before the first-quarter media timeout via Josie Vogel’s score.

But from there, the Orange pulled away. They went on a five-goal run to end the first quarter, putting them up 6-2 at the break. First, Adamson buried a free position goal, followed by a Ward score on a Trinkaus assist. Emma Muchnick added another on a free position shot, scoring the Orange’s third goal in 1:18 of game time, putting them up 4-2. Syracuse ended the quarter with two more goals to lead 6-2.

The Orange finished the first half on an 11-3 run, with Adamson and Guzik leading the team with four points. This set the stage for SU’s dominant win despite its shaky start.

Draw control rebound

Syracuse’s draw control unit has been disappointing this season. Rode had mixed success against UAlbany before her poor showing at the Terrapins. While it’ll be hard to live up to Kate Mashewske’s legacy — totaling 343 wins in her career — it’s still cause for concern.

Rode started at the draw versus the Big Red despite her struggles on Saturday. She helped SU win the first four draw controls, two of which she either scooped off the ground or snagged out of the air. Despite her success, the Orange struggled early and didn’t take their first lead until the 5:49 mark of the first quarter when Trinkaus dished to Ward. Still, SU ended the first quarter up 6-3 on the draw.

In the second, she continued to propel Syracuse, helping it corral the first four of the quarter. SU finished the half leading 13-6 in draw controls, allowing it to take a 12-5 advantage into the break.

Rode was more inconsistent in the second half, allowing Cornell to tie the draw controls 16-16 on the day. However, it was still a rebound from SU’s poor outing versus the Terrapins.

Adamson leads attack

Adamson has been one of Syracuse’s best offensive weapons this season. She entered the game second on the team with 11 points (seven goals, four assists). Despite SU falling behind early, Adamson helped the Orange build a comfortable lead by the end of the first.

The senior first slotted a free position into the top of the net to tie the score 2-2. Three minutes later, Muchnick picked up a ground ball after a failed clear attempt by the Big Red. She dished to Alexa Vogelman, who set up Adamson for her second goal of the game.

Adamson got involved as a distributor midway through the second. She set up Ward for her eighth goal of the season, prompting Cornell to take a timeout down 9-3. Her tally was pushed to three goals soon after when she responded to a Gracie Britton missed free position to make it 11-3.

She tacked on another assist with nine minutes left in the third when she motored down the field and found Britton to the right of the goal, who converted her third goal of the game. The St. Petersburg, Florida, native finished with five points on the day.

Defense strong without Basciano

In the second half versus the Terrapins, Julia Basciano, who started SU’s first two games, went down with an injury. Against Cornell, she was replaced by sophomore Ella Blesi — making her first-career start — on defense alongside Kaci Benoit and Coco Vandiver.

On two of Cornell’s first three possessions, the defense held strong. Vandiver forced a turnover, then Guyette saved a low shot. The Orange’s defensive unit forced Cornell to take shots high and wide, including a free position by Ellie Bergin that missed the net by two feet.

After Vogel’s goal put the Big Red up 2-1 with 7:07 left in the first, Syracuse’s defense settled in, not allowing a goal until the 12:28 mark of the second due to multiple forced turnovers and two saves by Guyette.

Despite a three-goal Cornell run to end the second and begin the third quarter, SU forced long scoreless possessions after that. The Orange held the Big Red to just four more goals and finished with 10 caused turnovers in their blowout win.

Published on February 18, 2025 at 6:19 pm

Contact Noah: njnussba@syr.edu | @ Noahnuss99