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Last season, Syracuse advanced to its second consecutive Final Four versus conference rival Boston College. Yet, for the second straight year, the Orange fell short, losing to BC 10-7.

In 2025, the Orange look wildly different. Offensive contributors Emma Tyrrell, Natalie Smith and Savannah Sweitzer graduated. On defense, nearly all of their starting lineup departed, including goaltender Delaney Sweitzer, who transferred to Northwestern.

SU replenished via a strong freshman class and returners coming off injury. Captains Olivia Adamson and Emma Ward both said Wednesday that Syracuse’s newcomers have excelled in practice and thought it’d translate well to Friday’s season-opener versus UAlbany.

Against the Great Danes, despite all the changes to its roster, Syracuse dominated. SU got out to a 6-0 first-quarter lead and never looked back. Ward and Adamson combined for 11 points, while SU’s revamped defense stood strong, leading to an easy victory.

Here are some observations from No. 6 Syracuse’s (1-0, 0-0 Atlantic Coast) 21-9 victory over UAlbany (0-1, 0-0 America East):

Mixed draw control success

Last season, the draw control unit was the least of SU’s worries. Kate Mashewske totaled 234 draw wins, placing second nationally with 10.64 per game. But Mashewske graduated last spring, leaving a gaping hole to fill.

Still, SU head coach Kayla Treanor had options. Adamson is a viable choice, as she recorded 107 draw wins as Mashewske battled injury in 2023. Ward and Adamson also mentioned freshman Molly Guzik and sophomore Meghan Rode as candidates based on their competitiveness in practice. On Wednesday, Treanor said it’d be a rotation in SU’s season opener.

However, it was anything but that. Versus UAlbany, which retained leading draw control specialist Haley Phalines, Rode took every draw in the first half.

She started strong, scooping up two of her own while Alexa Vogelman corralled two more to start. Rode had mixed success afterward, as Syracuse led just 12-9 at the draw in the first half. Treanor kept her at the circle in the back half, but she still failed to get into a rhythm. Rode finished the game with 11 draw wins in the contest, while SU narrowly led the overall battle 19-14.

New faces on defense

Of all the areas where the Orange’s roster was stripped, their defense faced the most change. Bianca Chevarie, Katie Goodale and Hallie Simkins all graduated. Coco Vandiver is the only starter still remaining. On Friday, Treanor opted for Julia Basciano — who only played in nine games last year — and freshman Alexia Reber in her starting lineup.

But facing a Great Danes attack that lost leading scorer Katie Pascale, Syracuse shined. On UAlbany’s first two offensive possessions, it failed to get a shot off, with SU’s defense forcing the ball out. At the eight-minute mark, Kaci Benoit forced a turnover, converting it into Ward’s first goal.

Despite the numerous fresh faces, SU’s defense forced 11 turnovers and only allowed four goals in the first half, entering the break up 15-4.

In the second half, it was more of the same. Syracuse forced the Great Danes into long offensive possessions without attempting a shot, keeping UAlbany off the board until the five-minute mark of the third. Although the unit had a vastly different look from a year ago, it still easily shut down UAlbany.

Guyette’s debut in net

After Delaney’s move to Northwestern, the Orange needed a replacement between the pipes. Delaney posted 343 saves and a 44.7% save rate across three seasons with SU, paving the way for its offense to excel. Next in line was junior Daniella Guyette, who’d played just seven games for SU prior to starting versus UAlbany.

The Great Danes didn’t test Guyette much. She didn’t face a shot on goal until less than 10 minutes remaining in the first quarter but easily collected an off-balance shot from Mikaela Mooney. She allowed two goals near the end of the first quarter but stonewalled two more shots throughout the rest of the half.

Guyette only faced nine shots in the first half, finishing with a 42.9% save percentage and three saves. To begin the second, she deflected a pass from behind the goal, leading to Emma Muchnick’s third goal of the day.

Though she surrendered a score with four minutes left in the third, that was UAlbany’s only goal of the quarter. Guyette was eased into her debut, only facing 13 shots and allowing six goals in the contest after she was subbed out midway through the fourth.

Adamson, Ward dominate

Despite losing many impactful players on offense, Syracuse retained Adamson and Ward to lead its attack. The two combined for 102 goals and 62 assists last season and mentioned Wednesday they’d have to step into an expanded role this year.

Despite neither producing a shot until nine minutes left in the first, Adamson scored her first goal of the year on her first attempt, then drilled another under UAlbany’s Grace Cincebox’s legs mere seconds later. On the next possession, the two combined for Ward’s first score.

Though it took until midway through the second, Ward dished to Adamson in front of the goal for her third goal of the day. In the half, Adamson and Ward totaled nine points, both scoring three goals.

To open the third, the pair continued to excel in the passing game, assisting goals to Vogelman and Muchnick, respectively. As Syracuse’s lead grew, SU’s star players were taken out in the fourth quarter, but their 11 combined points led it to victory.

Published on February 7, 2025 at 3:37 pm

Contact Noah: njnussba@syr.edu | @ Noahnuss99