#3 Orange Beat #2 Wildcats, Advance to National Championship Game

Friday, May 28

Towson, Md.

2:30 PM

Syracuse University

17-3

Northwestern

15-1

Syracuse

Northwestern

#3 Orange Beat #2 Wildcats, Advance to National Championship Game

5/28/2021 5:36:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score Highlights Meaghan Tyrrell Press Conference Emma Tyrrell Press Conference Game Photos Fan Photos Gary Gait Press Conference

TOWSON, Md. – No. 3 Syracuse held the highest-scoring offense in the nation without a goal for more than 18 minutes in the first half and went on to defeat No. 3 Northwestern, 21-13, in the NCAA Women's Lacrosse Tournament semifinals. The Orange will play ACC foe Boston College for the national championship on Sunday, May 30 at noon at Johnny Unitas Stadium in Towson, Maryland.

"It was an outstanding performance by the entire team," head coach Gary Gait said. "I thought it really started on the defensive end with Asa Goldstock leading the way. The first half our defense was amazing – the best half we've played all year – and gave us the opportunity to get a run going and get up on (Northwestern). That really built our confidence. Our offense did what we had to do and I think, overall, it was a great team effort top to bottom. Now we have one more to go."

The Orange offense recorded a season-high 21 goals. Meaghan Tyrrell led the way with five while Sam Swart, Emma Ward, Emma Tyrrell and Jenny Markey scored three goals apiece. Meaghan Tyrrell finished with eight points, increasing her NCAA Tournament total to 24 in three games.

Goldstock made 10 saves to help Syracuse limit Northwestern, which came into the game averaging 20.60 goals per game, to its lowest goal output this season.

Two more days with this group 🍊🧡 pic.twitter.com/uII2WGJ1gd
— Syracuse Women's Lacrosse (@CuseWLAX) May 28, 2021

HOW IT HAPPENED
Northwestern (15-1) scored the first goal of the contest 53 seconds into the game, but the Wildcats would not find the back of the net again for more than 18 minutes as Syracuse (17-3) scored five unanswered goals to give the Orange the lead for good. Meaghan Tyrrell tallied back-to-back goals to spark Syracuse's scoring run, which included goals from Swart, Markey and Ward.

Lindsey Wallace ended the Wildcats' scoring drought at the 10:28 mark, but the Orange responded with five straight goals to take a 10-2 lead. Emma Tyrrell had two goals during the stretch. Northwestern recorded the final two goals of the half to give the 'Cuse a 10-4 halftime lead.

The teams traded goals for the majority of the second half before Northwestern produced a 4-0 scoring run to cut the advantage to 15-12 with 7:27 remaining. That was as close as the Wildcats would get as Meaghan Tyrrell, Emily Ehle and Swart recorded goals to put the game out of reach and send the Orange to the national championship game for the third time in program history and hand Northwestern its first loss of the season.

OF NOTE
With 10 saves Goldstock increased her career total to 649. She needs just two more saves to become Syracuse's all-time leader. Goldstock currently trails Liz Hogan '11, who posted 650 saves in her career.

Meaghan Tyrrell increased her career NCAA Tournament point total to 30. That total ranks fifth all-time among Syracuse players in postseason play.

UP NEXT
No. 3 Syracuse takes on No. 4 Boston College in the national championship game on Sunday, May 30 at noon on ESPNU. It will be the fourth meeting between the two teams this season. The Orange is 2-1 in the three previous meetings.

Gallery: (5-28-2021) Game photos

Gallery: (5-28-2021) Fan photos