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Following a 3-0 start, Syracuse’s 2025 season has hit a roadblock. Three straight losses, including two in Atlantic Coast Conference play, have put the Orange at 3-3.

SU’s three-game skid is its first since 2018, and its recent losses to Northwestern and Clemson have it at its lowest ranking in the Inside Lacrosse Poll under head coach Kayla Treanor. The season-ending injury to Olivia Adamson has flipped an explosive attack into a stagnant one, and struggles on the draw control have limited opportunities.

Looking to get back in the win column, the Orange host Stanford next. The Cardinal are new to the ACC but are off to an undefeated start, jumping SU in the IL Poll ahead of the matchup.

Here’s everything to know about No. 6 Stanford (6-0, 2-0 ACC) before it faces No. 10 Syracuse (3-3, 0-2 ACC) Friday:

All-time series

Syracuse leads 2-1.

Last time they played …

SU’s first game under head coach Kayla Treanor was against the Cardinal on Feb. 11, 2022. In the season-opener, the Orange defeated then-No. 13 Stanford 12-9 to begin the Treanor era.

The two sides wrestled back and forth with the lead, entering halftime tied at 6-6. Syracuse clamped down defensively in the second half as it held the Cardinal scoreless for 19 minutes across the second, third and fourth quarters. On the attack, Meaghan Tyrrell’s game-high six goals helped SU win its first of four games to start the season.

The Cardinal report

Stanford’s perfect start to its ACC tenure has featured three wins over ranked opponents, including a six-goal win over then-No. 7 Virginia on Feb. 22. The Cardinal have climbed the national rankings each week, moving from No. 20 in the preseason poll to No. 6.

Head coach Danielle Spencer is in her sixth season with Stanford, coming fresh off a Pacific-12 Conference regular season and tournament title and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2024. The Cardinal returned their two top scorers from last season, including leading point-getter Aliya Polisky.

Polisky’s 71 points led the way a season ago, and six games in, she’s continued that production. Her 23 goals and 26 points lead a three-headed monster with Elise Murphy and Ava Arceri on the attack. While both played small roles in 2024 for the Cardinal, they’ve elevated into top threats by each totaling 23 points.

Redshirt junior Jordyn Case also poses a threat on the draw control and through her scoring. She leads the team with 25 draw controls and had five points and seven draws against UVA, earning her Inside Lacrosse Player of the Week.

Defensively, Lucy Pearson is in her second season as the Cardinal’s starter. After a Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2024, the Philadelphia native, who trains with former SU goalie Delaney Sweitzer in the offseason, totaled a .405 save percentage six games into her junior year.

Stanford currently sits tied for first in the ACC standings at 2-0 while posting 16 goals per game and allowing just 8.5 on average.

How Syracuse beats Stanford

The Orange can claw their way back into the win column by establishing a strong presence on the draw and limiting their turnovers. After complete dominance from Kate Mashewske and Co. last season in the circle, SU’s unit led by Meghan Rode ranks third-to-last in the ACC in draw controls per game thus far, combining for a 34-10 disadvantage over its last two games. The Cardinal will be another tough task, as they enter with 15.5 draws per game, 4.5 more than the Orange.

If Syracuse can obtain possession, it must be efficient on offense. Since Adamson’s injury, SU has failed to score in double digits each time. It’s the first time under Treanor that the Orange have been held to single-digit goals three games in a row. Postgame against Clemson, Treanor said SU must finish under 10 turnovers if it expects to win.

Stanford’s defense ranks first in the conference in caused turnovers per game at 11.67. Coupled with Syracuse’s 16.17 turnovers per game, the Cardinal’s defense could be a recipe for disaster for the Orange. But if Syracuse can flip the script and take care of the ball, maybe it will capture a pivotal ACC victory.

Stat to know: 10.67, 5.67

Six games into the season, Daniella Guyette has faced nearly double the volume Pearson has thus far. SU’s goalie is averaging 10.67 saves per game on 180 total shots faced. Pearson has totaled 5.67 saves per game on 109 shots faced.

Guyette’s prowess in net has her ranked first in the ACC in saves per game, while Pearson ranks last. However, it’s the constant pressure she’s under that has the Orange at .500 and the Cardinal with no blemishes on their record.

Player to watch: Aliya Polisky, attack, No. 24

Polisky has shown no signs of slowing down in her redshirt sophomore year. After kicking off the season with a seven-goal outing against USC, Polisky currently sits fourth in the ACC in goals per game (3.83) and ninth in points (26).

A teammate of SU midfielder Emma Muchnick this summer with Team USA, Polisky grew her game among the best players in college lacrosse. She’s so far built upon her 71 points in 2024 and gold medal in Hong Kong, posting three or more goals in each of the Cardinal’s first six games.

Published on March 6, 2025 at 2:04 am

Contact Aiden at: amstepan@syr.edu | @AidenStepansky