Final Four Bound!

Saturday, May 16

1 pm

Syracuse University

16-7

Loyola

17-5

Loyola

Syracuse

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

5/16/2015 4:44:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

Syracuse defeats Loyola to advance to the national semifinals for the fourth straight year.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – No. 3/3 Syracuse is headed back to the Final Four after defeating No. 13/13 Loyola, 10-8, in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Women's Lacrosse Tournament in the Carrier Dome on Saturday, May 16. With the victory the Orange advances to the national semifinals for the fourth consecutive year and the fifth time in the last six seasons. Syracuse will face either No. 1 Maryland or No. 9 Northwestern on Friday, May 22 in Philadelphia.

"It was an extraordinary game against a phenomenal Loyola team with a lot of seniors who didn't want to go home today," said Syracuse head coach Gary Gait. "I have to give credit to our defense. They held a team that scored 19 goals last week to seven. They did a great job and it was fun to watch. They continually gave us the ball back, gave us opportunities to keep working and grinding on the offensive end. Our offense grinded it out and played tough and made plays when they had to."

Since Gait took over the helm of the program in 2008, the Orange has played in the national semifinals six times (2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014). Syracuse will try to advance to the national championship game for the second consecutive season and for the third time in the last three years.

A tight first half featured four ties as neither team led by more than a goal. Kara Burke scored Loyola's first two goals and Taryn VanThof's goal at the 16:33 mark gave the Greyhounds (17-5) a 3-2 lead. A failed Loyola clear led to a fastbreak goal by sophomore Taylor Poplawski and a goal by junior Halle Majorana put the Orange (16-7) ahead 4-3 with 5:10 remaining in the first half. Loyola had the final possession of the half and took advantage of it. Syracuse goalkeeper Kelsey Richardson stopped Burke's shot but couldn't control the ball. Annie Thomas picked up the ground ball and put her shot in the back of the net with one second on the clock to tie the game at 4-4 at intermission.

The teams traded goals to start the second half before back-to-back goals by senior Loren Ziegler and freshman Riley Donahue put the Orange up 7-5 and gave Syracuse the lead for good. The Orange led 8-6 before Burke, who entered the game as the leading scorer in the NCAA Tournament, netted her third goal of the day to cut the deficit to one.

Syracuse answered on Majorana's third goal of the day on an assist from senior Devon Collins and Donahue's goal on an assist from senior Gabby Jaquith gave the Orange its largest lead of the day at 10-7 with 1:26 remaining. Syracuse won the ensuing draw and ran out the clock to snap the Greyhounds' 16-game winning streak and secure the sixth trip to championship weekend in program history.

Majorana led the offense with five points (3g, 2a), while Ziegler and Donahue had two goals apiece. Junior Taylor Gait and senior Kailah Kempney also added goals. Kempney finished with eight draw controls as the Orange dominated in the circle, winning 13-of-18 draws.

Syracuse registered 26 shots and nine ground balls to 20 shots and 13 ground balls for Loyola. Richardson finished with 10 saves, marking the eighth time this season she has reached double figures in saves. She and the Orange defense held Loyola, which had averaged 20 goals in its victories in the NCAA Tournament first and second rounds, to just seven. Wolf had seven saves for Loyola

The Orange will learn its national semifinals opponent on Sunday when No. 1/1 Maryland hosts No. 9/9 Northwestern.