No. 4 Syracuse women's lacrosse edges No. 17 Duke on late Muchnick goal, win streak reaches 11

The Orange improve to 11-3 overall and 6-2 in ACC play with the victory.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 12:05am

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The No. 4 Syracuse women's lacrosse team extended its win streak to 11 games with a 10-9 victory over No. 17 Duke on Saturday afternoon at Koskinen Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. Emma Muchnick scored the go-ahead goal with three minutes remaining to lead the Orange, who improved to 11-3 overall and 6-2 in ACC play.

Why it matters

This victory over a ranked opponent continues Syracuse's strong season and keeps them in contention for a high seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament. The Orange have now won 11 straight games, showcasing their ability to win close, competitive matches against quality opponents.

The details

Syracuse took a 5-4 lead into halftime behind three goals from Molly Guzik and a Bri Peters free-position tally. Duke responded early in the second half with two quick goals to regain the lead, but the Orange answered with a 3-0 run, highlighted by two Ashlee Volpe goals and another from Muchnick, to go ahead 8-6 entering the fourth quarter. Volpe's third goal pushed the lead to 9-6, but a two-minute non-releasable yellow card shifted momentum as Duke scored three goals in a 90-second span to tie the game at 9-9 with 5:20 remaining. Muchnick then delivered the decisive goal late, and Syracuse held on defensively in the final seconds.

  • The game was played on Saturday afternoon, April 5, 2026.
  • Syracuse took a 5-4 lead into halftime.
  • Duke scored two quick goals early in the second half to regain the lead.
  • Syracuse answered with a 3-0 run to go ahead 8-6 entering the fourth quarter.
  • Volpe's third goal pushed the lead to 9-6, but a yellow card allowed Duke to tie the game at 9-9 with 5:20 remaining.

The players

Emma Muchnick

A Syracuse player who scored the go-ahead goal with three minutes remaining to lead the Orange to victory.

Molly Guzik

A Syracuse player who scored three first-half goals for the Orange.

Ashlee Volpe

A Syracuse player who recorded a second-half hat trick to help the Orange secure the win.

Daniella Guyette

The Syracuse goalkeeper who made eight saves, including a stop in the closing moments to preserve the victory.

Izzy Lahah

A Syracuse player who caused two turnovers and added six ground balls.

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What’s next

Syracuse returns home to face No. 14 Notre Dame on April 11 at the JMA Wireless Dome, with game time set for 12 p.m.

The takeaway

Syracuse's women's lacrosse team has proven its resilience and ability to win close games against tough opponents, extending its win streak to 11 games and positioning itself well for a high seed in the NCAA tournament.