The Notre Dame women’s lacrosse team will be heading to Syracuse to take on the No. 3 Orange this Saturday in what could prove to be one of its toughest games of the season.
Syracuse started its season in a rough patch, quickly falling to 0-3 after facing Maryland, North Carolina and Stanford. After that 8-6 defeat against the Cardinal in late February, the Orange haven’t lost a game. Some of their most impressive wins include Loyola, Northwestern, Yale, Virginia and Duke.
Coincidentally, Notre Dame’s most recent loss was also against Stanford. Since then, they have dominated, winning four of their last five games by double-digits.
However, one should not expect that big of a deficit on Saturday in favor of either team. Syracuse has the fourth-best scoring defense in all of Division I, and Notre Dame has the sixth-best. It is safe to anticipate a low-scoring affair, and whichever offense can capitalize on the few opportunities they get will likely come out on top.
In a defensive battle where every possession will be critical, another key area to watch will be draws. Notre Dame comes in with the edge in that category, leading its opponents 199-133 in overall draw controls this season, with standout freshman draw specialist Uma Kowalski securing 120 of those herself. Syracuse, despite its 11-game win streak, has been somewhat less impressive in this category, with a draw record of 113-155. If Kowalski can continue at her current draw success rate against Syracuse, those extra offensive opportunities for the Irish could easily swing the game in their favor.
The goaltender matchup should also be special. The Orange’s top goaltender Daniella Guyette was recently named an Inside Lacrosse Midseason Media Third Team All-American. The senior posts an incredible 0.481 save rate, and she is also involved outside of the crease, grabbing 30 ground balls and causing 6 turnovers this season.
Notre Dame goaltender Ceci Patterson may only be in her freshman season, but sure doesn’t play like it. She maintains a save rate of 0.429 as well as 17 ground balls and 7 caused turnovers, plus an incredible ability to come up with the tough, high-pressure saves and to suffocate crease-rolling attempts.
Both offenses will have to choose and place their shots carefully if they want to see the ball in the back of the net on Saturday, and considering the defensive prowess of both squads, that will be a difficult feat.
The No. 25 Irish have what it takes to pull off the upset on the road this weekend. With an All-American attack duo in junior Kate Timarky and sophomore Madison Rassas, one of the best draw units in the country, and a stifling defense led by senior Franny O’Brien and graduate student Julia Carr, there is hardly a team in the country without reason to fear the Irish. But Syracuse will likely make it no easy task. The game begins at noon on Saturday and will be streamed on ACC Network.
