No. 2 Orange Posts 18-6 Win in Home Opener

Sunday, February 16

1:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

3-0

Canisius

0-1

Canisius

Syracuse

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

2/16/2014 4:37:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

Freshman Taylor Poplawski tallied a team-high four goals in the victory.

Box Score | Photo Gallery | Game Highlights

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Senior Alyssa Murray moved into a tie for fourth place on the school's all-time goals scored list and led Syracuse to an 18-6 victory against Canisius on Sunday, Feb. 16 in the Carrier Dome. The home opener was played in front a crowd of 1,442 fans, which is the fourth-highest single-game total in school history.

Freshman Taylor Poplawski scored a season-high four goals and finished with five points, while sophomore Kayla Treanor had three goals and two assists. Murray tallied a game-high six points on two goals and four assists. She now has 171 goals in her career, which tie her for fourth place on the career leader list with Leigh Ann Zimmer (2001-04).

Sophomore Kelly Cross started the scoring when she found the back of the net off an assist from Murray at the 24:45 mark. The Orange (3-0) scored two more times in the next 1:30 on tallies by Treanor and senior Amy Cross as SU started the game with eight unanswered goals. Megan Cuddy halted Syracuse's scoring run with back-to-back goals to bring Canisius (0-1) within six with 3:39 remaining in the half.

With Syracuse leading 10-2, Poplawski recorded three straight goals in the final 1:45 of the half to give the Orange a 13-2 halftime lead. She scored an unassisted goal at the 1:46 mark and then found the back of the net again 12 seconds later off an assist from Murray. Her final goal came with six seconds remaining on the clock off an assist from junior Kailah Kempney.

The teams traded goals to start the second half, but three consecutive goals by Murray, junior Devon Collins and Treanor gave Syracuse its largest of the game at 18-5 with 9:30 to play. Maria Kotas scored on an assist from Taylor Giglio with 2:10 remaining for the 18-6 final.

Collins, Amy Cross, Kelly Cross and junior Gabby Jaquith finished with two goals apiece, while Kempney had two assists. Jaquith also had an assist, as did junior Mallory Vehar, the first of her career.

The Orange was again dominant in the circle, winning 17-of-26 draws. Kempney led the way with seven. She now has 171 in her career, which rank second on SU's career leader list.

Syracuse recorded 40 shots and 21 ground balls to 14 shots and 11 ground balls for Canisius. Junior Kelsey Richardson recorded two saves in the first half for SU, while senior Alyssa Costantino had three after intermission. Kayla Scully had 12 saves for Canisius.

The Orange goes on the road for its next two games. Syracuse makes its ACC debut on Sunday, Feb. 23 at Virginia before traveling to Chestnut Hill, Mass. to face Boston College on Wednesday, Feb. 26.