NCAA Women's Lacrosse Preview: Opportunities Aplenty at No. 11 Syracuse

USA Lacrosse Magazine is beginning its countdown to the 2025 women's lacrosse season by releasing one team preview per day beginning on Monday, Jan. 13.

We continue the countdown with No. 11 Syracuse, which faces significant graduation losses in the midfield and on defense.

Stop us if you’ve heard this before: Syracuse’s graduation losses are significant, just like so many others across the country.

A midfield unit that was among the nation’s best is getting a massive overhaul, with a new cast of characters hoping to continue the unit’s traditional excellence. Sam Devito is the most senior member as a graduate transfer from Princeton, and she possesses significant game experience compared to her peers.

The unit could step up to be a strength as the season develops, especially with touted newcomers like Molly Guzik and Mileena Cotter staring down a roster ripe with available playing time.

Like its midfield, Syracuse is facing big question on defense. Kaci Benoit and Coco Vandiver at least give head coach Kayla Treanor a pair of anchors to build around, but she’ll need the likes of juniors Superia Clark and Chloe Bethea-Jones to continue their growth.

If there’s any consolation, it’s that Syracuse shouldn’t have too many issues scoring. At least not with a 1-2 punch of Olivia Adamson and Emma Ward, two of the most creative offensive players in the country. Payton Rowley has also shown that she can contribute, so it’s not as if Adamson and Ward need to do all the work themselves.

The biggest offensive question comes on the draw, where Syracuse great Kate Mashewske graduated after a career in which she was a one-woman wrecking crew inside the circle. Adamson, who once stepped in to replace Mashewske when she was hurt in 2023, has draw chops. But will she be the one relied on heavily when her energy could be best spent on offense?

TOP RETURNERS

Olivia Adamson, A, Sr. (58G, 25A)
Emma Ward, A, Gr. (44G, 37A)
Kaci Benoit, D, So. (21GB, 15CT)

What Syracuse won’t lack in 2025 is offense. Olivia Adamson is a pure scorer and the type of dodger 1-v-1 defenders have nightmares about. Same goes for Emma Ward, who’s one of the craftiest attackers in the country.

KEY ADDITIONS

Sam Devito, M, Gr. (21G, 6A at Princeton)
Molly Guzik, M, Fr. (Spencerport High School, N.Y.)
Alexia Reber, D, Fr. (Bryn Mawr High School, Md.)
Mileena Cotter, M, Fr. (Salem High School, Mich.)

Lacking a veteran presence in the midfield following so many graduation losses, Syracuse poached Sam Devito from Princeton, where she started all but one game in 2024. She’ll have some young midfield counterparts (potentially players like Molly Guzik and Mileena Cotter) to work with and mentor. 

NOTABLE DEPARTURES

Graduations: Emma Tyrrell, A; Natalie Smith, M; Maddy Baxter, M; Savannah Sweitzer, M; Katie Goodale, D; Hallie Simkins, D; Bianca Chevarie, D; Kate Mashewske, Draw
Transfers: Jenny Markey, M (Florida); Delaney Sweitzer, G (Northwestern)

X-FACTOR

Daniella Guyette, G, Jr. (7.63GAA, .524SV%)

Delaney Sweitzer was a surprise late add for Northwestern in the transfer portal, leaving Syracuse with Daniella Guyette between the pipes. The Orange could do much, much worse. Their incumbent impressed in limited time spread across seven games in 2024 and looks like the player primed for the bulk of the work, at least early on.

THE NARRATIVE

Syracuse continually knocked on the door of an NCAA championship in the past five or so seasons, starting with the rise of Emily Hawryschuk’s career and possibly concluding with the year-after-year graduations of the Tyrrell twins.

It seems premature to say Syracuse’s window is closed. The Orange haven’t even played a game yet and still boast two top-flight attackers – not to mention one of the game’s best offensive minds as its head coach.

But without big-time performances from several handfuls of unknowns, Syracuse might spend 2025 building for a bright future as opposed to contending for a title.