Syracuse Sports Recap

After a two-week layoff, the No. 2 Syracuse women’s lacrosse team looks to extend its unbeaten start against Virginia Tech on Saturday, March 27. Opening draw is scheduled for 5 p.m.

The game will be televised on ACC Network and broadcast on WJPZ 89.1 FM in the Syracuse area. Live updates will also be available on Twitter (@Cusewlax.)

ORANGE UPDATE

Syracuse (5-0) scored a pair of wins against No. 4 Notre Dame on Thursday, March 11 and Sunday, March 14. In Thursday’s contest, a career-night from Sierra Cockerille (5G, 2A) led the Orange past the Fighting Irish by an 18-14 margin. In Sunday’s showdown, the ‘Cuse tallied six unanswered goals to open the second half, erasing a five-goal halftime deficit en route to a 15-12 victory.

The Orange continue to rank among the nation’s best in a number of categories. The team places third in the country in assists per game (9.40), fourth in points per game (25.80), fifth in scoring margin (7.80), and sixth in draw controls per game (16.60). Graduate student goalkeeper Asa Goldstock also owns the fourth-best save percentage (.564) and stops the 12th-most shots per game (10.60) in the nation.

SCOUTING THE HOKIES

Virginia Tech enters the contest with a 3-5 record. The Hokies have yet to record a win in ACC play, losing to Duke, Virginia, and North Carolina. Vatech last played on Tuesday, March 23 in Blacksburg, where it netted a 19-5 victory against Radford.

Senior midfielder Paige Petty leads the team with 21 goals. Senior attack Sarah Lubnow holds

team-highs in both points (27) and assists (16).

SERIES HISTORY

Syracuse has won nine of the 10 previous meetings between the teams. In 2020, the Orange defeated the Hokies, 18-8, in the Crown Lacrosse Classic in Charlotte, N.C. Emily Hawryschuk led the Orange with seven points and tied with Meaghan Tyrrell for the team lead in goals (4).

Women’s Volleyball

Senior Ella Saada recorded a season-high 14 kills and had eight digs and four blocks in Syracuse’s 3-0 win against Wake Forest on Friday at the Women’s Building. It marks the fourth time this season that the Orange has posted a three-set victory. Saada will be recognized for her contributions to the Orange volleyball program prior to Syracuse’s match against Duke on Sunday, March 28th (1 pm, ACCNX). A 2017 Atlantic Coast Conference All-freshman Team selection, Saada has played in every match (102) in her Syracuse career. She leads the Orange (6-7 overall, 6-7 ACC) in kills this season with 112.

In the first set, Saada had three kills early as the Orange jumped out to a 9-2 lead and then scored the final

point of the set on a kill to give Syracuse the 25-16 win against the Demon Deacons (0-13). Sophomore setter Lauren Woodford recorded six of her 11 assists in the opening set.

The Orange used an 8-1 run to close out a 2516 win in the second set. Saada and sophomore Abby Casiano fueled the final stretch combining for five kills in the eight points. Freshman Naomi Franco recorded four of her seven kills in the second.

With the score tied at 16 in the third set, Franco put away a kill to ignite a 9-4 run that secured the Orange victory. Saada had four kills in the third, while Franco, Casiano and Yuliia Yastrub each had three.

Saada’s ‘Cuse Career

The Kfar Masaryk, Israel native will earn degrees in forensic science and psychology in May. In four seasons, she has 869 kills, 780 digs, and 77 service aces. She has played every match in her Orange career.

The Series vs. Duke

The Orange have won four of the last six matches in the series against the Blue Devils (8-9, 6-6), including three straight wins in 2017 and 2018. Last season Duke outlasted Syracuse, 3-2, in a match that took 2 hours and 55 minutes to decide. The Blue Devils lead the series, 6-4.

NC State scored in the 94th minute to defeat Syracuse, 2-1, in overtime in men’s soccer action on Friday, March 26.

“It’s tough – I have a young group that is leaving it all on the soccer field,” said Syracuse head coach Ian Mcintyre. “We were very good tonight and started extremely well and then conceded a goal on a restart. We had good moments and I’m proud of the effort and energy. The guys showed courage and were brave in their play, but to come away with nothing is extremely disappointing.

Syracuse (1-7-4, 0-6-3) jumped out to an early lead when freshman Deandre Kerr scored his third goal of the season on an assist

from sophomore Noah Singelmann. The Wolfpack (38-2, 1-7-2) answered in the 15th minute when Pablo Pedregosa found the back of the net off a pass from George Asomani.

The Orange were the more dangerous team in the second half as they outshot NC State, 5-1, but couldn’t take advantage of their opportunities. The game winner came in the 94th minute from Aidan Foster, who notched his second goal of the season.

“We created enough chances but we probably didn’t test their goalkeeper enough to win the game,” Mcintyre said. “I think we’ve put some really good performances together but we have to have more quality in the final third.”