It had been two weeks since the Syracuse Orange women’s lacrosse team last stepped onto the field, but on Friday night in Annapolis, they picked up right where they left off. In a gritty, grind-it-out performance that has become their trademark in 2026, the Orange defeated the Loyola Greyhounds 8-6 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

This was classic Syracuse lacrosse: a suffocating defense, a relentless draw unit, and just enough offensive firepower to outlast a stubborn opponent. The Orange never trailed, but they also never led by more than three goals, keeping fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.

Offensively, Syracuse relied on athleticism and dodging to create scoring chances, but a cold shooting night—Loyola goalie Kennedy Buntrock recorded 14 saves—kept the game tight. Sophomore Caroline Trinkaus was the star on attack, netting a hat trick while taking nearly three times as many shots as any other player. Mileena Cotter turned in perhaps her best offensive performance of the season, contributing two goals and an assist. Mackenzie Rich, Emma Muchnick, and Molly Guzik each added a goal, while Annie Parker chipped in an assist.

The real story, though, was the Syracuse defense. For the second time this season, they held Loyola to a season low in goals, playing a versatile, aggressive game that smothered the Greyhounds’ scoring chances. They pushed out beyond the eight-meter to apply pressure, used active stick checks to disrupt passes, and baited Loyola into throwing the ball into dangerous areas. The result? A stifling stat line for the Greyhounds: just 17 total shots, 12 shots on goal, and 22 turnovers—16 of which were caused by the Orange.

As they’ve done all season, Coco Vandiver and Izzy Lahah led the defensive charge. Vandiver was a force with four caused turnovers and two ground balls, while Lahah added three caused turnovers of her own. Their relentless effort ensured that even when the offense struggled, Syracuse never lost control of the game.

This was a win built on grit and determination—the kind of performance that defines championship-caliber teams. The Orange did just enough to advance, and now they’ll look to carry that defensive dominance into the next round.