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To begin the 2025 season, Syracuse’s offense looked dangerous. Guided by the veteran presence of Emma Ward and Olivia Adamson, who each tallied 17 and 16 points, respectively, SU jumped out to a 3-0 start.

But Syracuse’s attack lost a chunk of its backbone when Adamson was unavailable in its losses to No. 2 North Carolina and No. 3 Northwestern. In its 16-8 loss to the Tar Heels, SU was held scoreless for two 15-plus minute stretches and was held to a single-digit goal total for just the eighth time under head coach Kayla Treanor.

Similarly, in their 12-8 defeat against the Wildcats three days later, the Orange’s offense didn’t get off the ground until over 22 minutes into the contest when Ward finally put them on the board. Still, Northwestern’s early 5-0 lead proved too much for Syracuse’s depleted offense to overcome.

With Adamson’s timetable to return still in question, SU returns to conference play against Clemson looking to avoid losing a third-straight game for the first time since April 19, 2018.

Here’s everything to know about No. 12 Clemson (4-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast) before it takes on No. 5 Syracuse (3-2, 0-1 Atlantic Coast) Saturday:

All time series

Syracuse leads 2-0.

Last time they played…

When the then-No. 2 Orange faced off against Clemson on April 13, 2024, the stakes were vastly different for each team. A Syracuse victory would secure an 8-0 ACC record and guarantee at least a share of the program’s first outright regular-season conference title. Meanwhile, Clemson aimed to rebound from a disappointing 2-5 conference start. The Orange left no doubt, steamrolling the Tigers 15-6 for their ninth straight win and clinched the outright ACC regular-season crown later that day.

Syracuse wasted no time seizing control, racing to a commanding 6-1 lead by the end of the first quarter. Emma Tyrrell led the charge with six points, while Adamson and Payton Rowley contributed four apiece.

The Tigers report

Last season, the Tigers started strong with a 5-1 record but fell out of Inside Lacrosse’s Top 25. Clemson’s season ended with a tight 14-12 loss to No. 2 seed Notre Dame in the ACC Tournament after knocking off No. 10 seed Pittsburgh 18-15 in the first round, as it didn’t earn a trip to the NCAA Tournament.

During the 2024 campaign, attack Claire Bockstie set the pace for her team with 60 points (41 goals, 19 assists). Alongside Bockstie, freshmen duo Natalie Shurtleff and Regan Byrne shined in their debut seasons with 42 and 41 points, respectively. Goalie Emily Lamparter started all 18 of Clemson’s games last season but was pulled for backup Krissy Kowalski. Lamparter finished 2024 with just a 46.2% save percentage.

Like Syracuse, the Tigers have seen some new faces emerge and make an impact through their first four games. Following Bockstie’s departure this past offseason, the Tigers’ attack has been rejuvenated by sophomore Kayla MacLeod and Lexi Edmonds, a graduate student who transferred from the University of Pennsylvania. Through Clemson’s first four games, the two have each notched a team-high 17 points.

In the circle, freshman Kira Balis has assumed the responsibility of taking draws in place of former specialist Ella Little. With a team-high 41 draw controls so far, she has set herself up to replace Little as the Tigers’ No. 1 draw option in 2025. Little led all Tigers with 75 draw controls in 2024 during her farewell season with the team.

How Syracuse beats Clemson

Clemson currently ranks ninth in the nation in caused turnovers, with 12.5 per game, led by midfielder Summer Agostino’s 12. Through its first five games, Syracuse’s opponents have racked up 37 combined caused turnovers, which could come into play Saturday against the Tigers. If SU is going to halt its losing streak Saturday, it’ll need to take care of the ball versus Clemson’s aggressive defense.

Stat to know: 42.9%

When Clemson finds itself closing in on the attack, it has made the most of its opportunities so far in 2025. With 72 goals already this season, the Tigers’ offensive unit has culminated with a 42.9% offensive efficiency rating. The percentage currently ranks fourth in the country and could spell victory for the Tigers if Syracuse’s defense can’t find a way to limit shot attempts from threats like MacLeod and Edmonds.

Player to watch: Kayla MacLeod, attack, No. 20

To say that MacLeod impressed in 2024 as a freshman would be an understatement. Last season, her 30 goals ranked third on Clemson and was highlighted by a season-high five against then-No. 5 Notre Dame on March 22, 2024. Behind her 11 total multi-point games, she was named to the 2024 All-ACC Freshman Team.

Fast forward to 2025, and she continues to defy expectations. Through just four games, the sophomore has already tallied 16 goals and boasts a 76.5% shooting percentage.

Published on February 26, 2025 at 11:09 pm

Contact Matthew: mgray06@syr.edu | @ma77hew_gray