With under a month to go in Syracuse’s 2022 season, the Orange lost Emma Tyrrell, their No. 3 scorer, to a season-ending injury. In that same time, fourth-leading scorer Megan Carney played sporadically, grappling with a lower-body injury that haunted her for large swaths of the season. Sierra Cockerille sat on the sideline with a brace covering her right leg, and Emma Ward wore a boot on her right foot.

This offseason, second-year head coach Kayla Treanor is on the hunt to break the spell. She and her staff put in place more injury-prevention measures, including consulting health professionals from across the country.

“We’re doing a better job of monitoring our athletes,” Treanor said.

Cockerille and Carney are “on their way back,” Treanor said, as both are returning for a fifth year. Meaghan Tyrell and Tessa Queri also opted to use their extra years of eligibility, bolstering an Orange team looking to bounce back from its injury-ridden finish to last season. Tyrrell is the only returning Tewaaraton Award finalist from last year.

“It's great that they're back and able to have such a great leadership role for us on and off the field,” Treanor said of her fifth-year players. “With all their experience — so much playing experience on the field — it's great to have them back. They’re just a big part of Syracuse lacrosse.”

LAST SEASON

The Orange played a loaded 2022 schedule featuring 11 regular-season games against ranked teams. Syracuse came away with a win in seven of those ranked contests and reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament en route to a 15-6 record. But a first-round exit from the ACC tournament left much to be desired for the Orange, and Treanor said the loss is a motivating factor for Syracuse’s returning players.

BIGGEST FALL QUESTION

Will injuries continue to hinder the Orange, or will Syracuse be able to bounce back?

Along with Carney, Cockerille, Emma Tyrrell and Ward’s injuries, current sophomore Mackenzie Olson was sidelined for the 2021 season with an ACL injury she suffered the summer before arriving in Syracuse. All five players are working their way back but haven’t returned to full form. With an increased focus on injury prevention this season, Treanor and her team will look to shake the injury bug that followed them throughout last season.

MARQUEE ADDITION: ABIGAIL LAGOS

With four players returning for a fifth year, Syracuse is rife with experience. But no player has more than graduate transfer Abigail Lagos, who is entering her seventh year of college lacrosse. Lagos, the IWLCA Division II player of the year, redshirted her freshman season in 2017 and took a medical redshirt her junior year. She holds the program record in career goals with 228 and led UIndy to the program’s first Division II national championship last season.

BREAKOUT CANDIDATE: OLIVIA ADAMSON

With injuries piling up toward the end of last season, Adamson saw an uptick in minutes. The sophomore attacker appeared in all 21 games but began to stand out near the end of the year, recording 18 goals in the Orange’s last seven games. She tallied three goals against Princeton in the NCAA tournament’s second round, landing a spot on the ACC all-freshman team.

“She stepped up and had great performances,” Treanor said. “Right at the end, she played phenomenal and definitely helped us get to the Elite Eight.”