Syracuse Outnumbers Loyola in Draw Controls, Prompting Big Win

By Kerry Bretti 

Kayla Treanor takes the draw against Bailey Mathis

SYRACUSE, N.Y.-  Draw controls were key as the Syracuse women’s lacrosse team opened its season with a 17-6 win over Loyola, in the first game of a double-header at the Carrier Dome, Sunday. Syracuse controlled 22 of 25 draws; 19 of them won with Kayla Treanor in the center.

Treanor finished the afternoon as the second leading scorer with four goals and one assist behind Halle Majorana who tallied five goals and an assist. Treanor was key in quarterbacking the offense, even through a face guard from the Loyola defense. Treanor even got a little flashy, throwing over-the- shoulder shots and behind-the-back passes.

Seven different players put up goals for the Orange and Nicole Levy led the team in assists with four.

Syracuse went on a 9-0 run spanning the end of the first half and the beginning of the second, holding Loyola scoreless for 25 minutes. The clock ran with 26:57 left in the second half after the Orange expanded the lead to ten points.

Free position shots were also pivotal for the Orange as it capitalized on five of seven eight meter shots. Syracuse’s defense was strong as it held Loyola to two free position opportunities; the Greyhounds only scoring on one.

Loyola’s Sabrina Tabasso scored the team’s only goal from a free position and netted another to lead the Greyhounds with two goals. Emily Clark and Maddy Blakeman each added two points as they each tallied one goal and one assist for Loyola.

The Greyhounds picked up 18 ground balls to Syracuse’s 14 and they outdid the Orange in caused turnovers, 12 to nine.

Syracuse goalkeeper Allie Murray played the entire 60 minutes and saved three of the nine shots on goal. Syracuse cleared nine of 11 times.

Loyola’s Molly Wolf started between the pipes and saved five of 18 shots during her 33 minutes of play. Kady Glynn replaced Wolf early in the second half and saved one of five shots. Loyola cleared 12 of 17 times.

The new rules allowing self-starts kept the game running at a faster pace than in previous seasons. The Orange looked well rehearsed with the new rule while Loyola took more time to adapt, losing a step in the midfield.

With the win, Syracuse advances to 1-0 on the season and Loyola drops its second straight, falling to 0-2.

The second game of the opening day twin-bill had the Orange facing Binghamton at 7:30 Sunday night.

Neither head coach Gary Gait nor players were available to reporters after the first game.