The Orange will face sixth-seeded Virginia in the national semifinals.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- No. 2 Syracuse is headed back to the national semifinals for the third consecutive year after an 11-9 come-from-behind victory against No. 6 Boston College in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Women's Lacrosse Tournament. The Orange will face sixth-seeded Virginia in the national semifinals on Friday, May 23 in Towson, Md.
Syracuse improved its record to 20-2, marking the first time it has won 20 games in a season. The Orange will make its fifth appearance in the national semifinals in the last seven years next weekend. It marks the first time Syracuse has advanced to the national semifinals in three consecutive seasons. Boston College ends the year with a 15-6 record.
"It was a great team effort," Syracuse head coach Gary Gait said. "That was a very good Boston College team. We knew it wasn't going to be easy. Certainly they showed up ready to play, getting up on us early. I loved the way our team responded as we came back to get the lead in the first half. That was huge. I thought they did a nice job shutting down some of our stars, doubling early, opening up some opportunities for other players. Thankfully they answered when we needed them. It was a great game and we're happy to move on."
Senior Katie Webster led the Orange offense with three goals, which all came during Syracuse's 9-2 scoring run that helped it overcome an early three-goal deficit. Senior Alyssa Murray also had three points (1g, 2a), while Kayla Treanor had two points, giving her 107 this season. She is now the highest scoring sophomore in school history. In addition, her 73 goals tie her for third place on Syracuse's single-season scoring list.
Moira Barry opened the scoring just 51 seconds into the contest and Covie Stanwick netted back-to-back goals to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead at the 20:24 mark. Webster converted a free position attempt to put Syracuse on the scoreboard and spark the Orange on a 9-2 scoring run that extended into the second half. Senior Bridget Daley followed with a free position goal before sophomore Erica Bodt and Webster found the back of the net to give Syracuse its first lead of the game at 4-3.
Sarah Mannelly tallied her only goal of the game to briefly halt the Orange's scoring run, but Daley and freshman Taylor Poplawski both netted goals in the final 5:43 to give Syracuse a 6-4 halftime lead.
Murray started the scoring in the second half when she came from behind the left side of the net and put her shot past Boston College goalkeeper Zoe Ochoa. Webster followed with an unassisted goal and Treanor's free position goal at the 13:43 mark capped the run as Syracuse equaled its largest lead of the game at 9-5 with 13:43 to play.
Stanwick started the Eagles' comeback attempt when she scored on an assist from Barry at the 5:26 mark. Barry then scored on an assist from Brooke Blue to cut the lead to 9-7, but Treanor found the back of the net when senior Amy Cross passed her the ball on the right side of the crease on a free position as the Orange went back up by three. The Eagles wouldn't go away as Blue and Barry posted back-to-back goals, both on assists from Caroline Margolis, to cut the lead to one at 10-9 with 1:09 to play. Barry finished the day with four goals and an assist, while Margolis had five assists.
Daley won the ensuring draw, her third of the day, to give possession to the Orange. Senior Natalie Glanell tallied an insurance goal when she scored on an empty net with 20 seconds to go on an assist from Murray to extend Syracuse's lead to two. Daley again won the draw and the Orange ran out the clock to record the 11-9 victory.
Syracuse outshot Boston College, 25-23, while the Eagles picked up 15 ground balls to 13 for the Orange. Junior Kailah Kempney and Daley recorded four draw controls each to lead Syracuse to a 13-9 advantage in the circle. Senior Alyssa Costantino started in goal for the Orange and recorded four saves in the first half, while junior Kelsey Richardson made four saves after intermission. Ochoa made 10 saves for Boston College.
