Orange Dominate in Season-Opening Win

Friday, February 8

3 PM

Syracuse University

1-0

Connecticut

0-1

UCONN

Syracuse

2/8/2019 7:26:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score Highlights Press Conference Photo Gallery

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – No. 15/13 Syracuse team scored eight goals in the first eight minutes and never looked back as it posted an 18-6 victory in the season opener against Connecticut. The Orange scored on six of their first eight shots as they improved to 12-0 in season openers under the direction of head coach Gary Gait.

"It was a fun game and it was great to be out there playing," Gait said. "The roll we went on in the first eight minutes was great to see. We came out sharp, focused, prepared and we really took it to them in the first 10 minutes. That set the tone for the game."

Nine different players scored at least one goal and five tallied multiple goals for Syracuse, including junior Emily Hawryschuk. The Orange's leading scorer last season picked up where she left off, posting four goals and an assist. Freshman Meaghan Tyrrell also posted five points. Redshirt junior Morgan Alexander made her Syracuse debut and posted a hat trick, as did sophomore Sam Swart.

HOW IT WAS DECIDED
Syracuse took the lead for good 1:23 into the contest when redshirt junior Mary Rahal passed up on the free-position shot, instead getting the ball to senior Natalie Wallon, who buried her shot. That was the first of eight unanswered goals for the Orange, which gave them an 8-0 lead at the 22:09 mark. Hawryschuk scored all four of her goals during the scoring run.

Connecticut briefly halted the offensive outburst with a free-position goal, but Syracuse ended the first half with four more goals and then tallied the first three goals of the second half to take its largest lead of the night of 15-1. The Huskies netted four of the game's next five goals and recorded the final goal of the game with 14 seconds remaining for the 18-6 final.

OF NOTE
Nine freshmen made their collegiate debuts in the victory, three of which who were in the starting lineup. Megan Carney and Tyrrell were part of the starting attack, while Sarah Cooper started on defense. Tyrrell had five points on two goals and three assists, while Carney finished with a goal and an assist. Cooper picked up four ground balls, caused two turnovers and had a draw control.

UP NEXT
The Orange start the season by playing four games in 11 days. Next up for Syracuse is Binghamton on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. in the Carrier Dome. Admission and parking are free.