No. 10 Syracuse Hosts No. 7 Yale in Top-10 Lacrosse Showdown

Orange look to extend five-game winning streak against undefeated Bulldogs

Mar. 17, 2026 at 12:00am

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No. 10 Syracuse women's lacrosse team will host No. 7 Yale on Tuesday in a matchup of top-10 programs. The Orange have won five straight games and are coming off a 9-6 road victory over then-No. 4 Northwestern. Sophomore Molly Guzik has been the offensive catalyst for Syracuse, scoring a team-high 23 goals this season. The Orange defense has been stifling, holding opponents to just 7.4 goals per game, the fifth-lowest mark in the nation. Syracuse and Yale have met six times previously, with the Bulldogs winning the last two matchups, including in last year's NCAA Tournament.

Why it matters

This is a crucial early-season top-10 showdown between two of the nation's premier women's lacrosse programs. Syracuse is looking to continue its strong start and prove it can compete with the elite teams in the country, while Yale aims to remain undefeated and solidify its status as a national title contender.

The details

Syracuse is led by sophomore Molly Guzik, who has scored a team-high 23 goals this season. The Orange defense has been stifling, holding opponents to just 7.4 goals per game. In their last game, the Orange held then-No. 4 Northwestern to a season-low six goals. Yale enters the game undefeated at 7-0 and boasts a balanced attack, averaging 16.0 goals per game while surrendering just 5.6. Kate Gould paces the Bulldogs with 31 points, while Kelly Holmes has a team-high 20 goals.

  • The game will be played on Tuesday, March 17 at 4:30 p.m.
  • Syracuse is on a five-game winning streak heading into the matchup

The players

Molly Guzik

A sophomore who has been the offensive catalyst for Syracuse, scoring a team-high 23 goals this season.

Kate Gould

The leading scorer for Yale with 31 points on 18 goals and 13 assists.

Kelly Holmes

The top goal-scorer for Yale with 20 goals on the season.

Niamh Pfaff

Yale's starting goalkeeper who has a .520 save percentage.

Daniella Guyette

Syracuse's starting goalkeeper who had 8 saves at a .571 clip in the win over Northwestern.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready to face another top-10 opponent in Yale. They are an excellent team, and we will need to bring our best effort to come away with a win.”

— Molly Guzik, Syracuse Sophomore

What’s next

The winner of Tuesday's game will take a big step towards securing a high seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This matchup between two top-10 women's lacrosse programs should provide an exciting early-season clash between two national title contenders. Syracuse is looking to continue its strong start, while Yale aims to remain undefeated and solidify its status as an elite team in the country.