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The Syracuse women's lacrosse team boasts a historic defense, allowing just 8.06 goals per game, the best since 1998. With a 13-5 record and a 12-game winning streak, the offense now needs to step up.
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 24: Caroline Trinkaus #24 of the Syracuse Orange during a lacrosse game against the Loyola Greyhounds at the JMA Wireless Dome on February 24, 2026 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Todd F. Michalek/Syracuse Athletics/University Images via Getty Images)
The 2026 Syracuse Orange have been defined by their incredible defense.
A turnover-causing and shot-limiting machine, the âCuse defense has been historically great this year in allowing just 8.06 goals-against per game. Thatâs the best mark for a Syracuse team since all the way back in the programâs inaugural season of 1998 (7.77 GAA).
In 18 games, the backer zone led the charge to a 13-5 record, a 12-game winning streak and only three games in which SUâs opponent reached double-digits on the scoreboard.
Along the way, theyâve become very comfortable operating in late-game situations with a narrow lead in a low-scoring affair in which the onus has been put squarely on them to get stops to secure the win. In back-to-back, 6-5 wins over Yale and Virginia back in March, the defense successfully held off the Bulldogs and the Cavaliers while the offense floundered to a single second-half tally both times.
Theyâve been held to the fire many times, but they barely break into a sweat. That was never more evident than back-to-back weekends in early April when the Orange held off late-game comeback attempts by Duke and Notre Dame, the latter of which took four overtimes to complete.
Those games were all representative of the majority of the season, in which the theme was the defense holding their opponents down on the proverbial mat long enough for the offense to scrape together enough goals to nab the win.
And thatâs how they spent most of their 12-game win streak: in high-pressure, tight-game scenarios in which one or two plays could tip the balance of the outcome. Seven of their 13 wins came by one or two goals, with two more coming by three goals. All season, only five of their games finished with more than a four-goal margin, win or lose. Unsurprisingly, the Orange rank 45th in the country with a plus-1.67 goals per game scoring margin.
Syracuse women's lacrosse has a goals-against average of 8.06 per game in 2026.
The Syracuse women's lacrosse team won 13 games in their 2026 season.
Syracuse women's lacrosse had a 12-game winning streak in 2026.
The last time Syracuse women's lacrosse had a goals-against average this low was in their inaugural season in 1998, with a mark of 7.77.
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With a defense having this kind of season, youâd think âCuse would have a much better average scoring margin than that. But thatâs how much of a struggle itâs been, with the offense averaging in the single digits for the year. Their 9.72 goals per game ranks 94th nationally, and itâs kind of mind-boggling to think that SU has only scored more than 10 goals in any single game just six times all season.
Itâs frustrating because it feels like a group that has lots of individual talent that flashes in pockets but has struggled to establish an identity and produce with any kind of regularity. They are still a relatively young unit, and one that has experienced a lot of change this year with a new coaching staff, new system and lots of positional and role changes off last yearâs team.
As a unit, theyâve just been inconsistent across the board. Their shooting has been lacking in most games, and the effectiveness of their movement has almost come down to a possession-by-possession basis. Theyâre more comfortable going against a zone given their familiarity in practice, although theyâre still inconsistent, but they really lack conviction attacking a man defense. It has to come down to more than using individual, clear-out dodges to try to score with lots of standing around when you donât have the ball.
Working as a unit should be able to come together for them. They have the ingredients to make it work. Mackenzie Rich and Ashlee Volpe are excellent passers and compliment each other perfectly on opposite sides of the field. They have players with the first-step quickness to make effective off-ball cuts, both of the genuine and decoy variety to possibly open up a secondary cut.
They have the dodgers like Emma Muchnick and Caroline Trinkaus for when they do want to attempt a clear-out. Molly Guzik can score in any way you like and her outside shot is a dangerous weapon that needs to find enough space to be unleashed.
The midfielders offer great depth and an eclectic mix of scoring abilities with the likes of Bri Peters, Alexa Vogelman, Joely Caramelli and Mileena Cotter.
On the eve of the NCAA Tournament, âCuse really doesnât want to have to rely on their defense to do all the heavy lifting anymore. Theyâve proven an ability to do it and do it well, but you leave yourself so little margin for error when you struggle to get beyond 10 goals. You donât want to know that giving up more than eight or nine tallies might be an issue for you if you just canât keep up.
Theyâve had two weeks since they last played, so twice as much time as normal to work on things and make whatever adjustments they see fit. They donât necessarily need to turn into a goal factory, but improving that consistency and efficiency even just a little could make a big difference.
And itâs likely going to be necessary if the Orange want to make some noise this May.