Syracuse lacrosse: UAlbany and Vermont preview and game thread

It’s the first and only Dome doubleheader of the season on a February Friday.

The second weekend of February marks the first weekend where both Syracuse Orange teams are in action as the women begin their 2025 season and the men look to keep the torrid momentum going after their 24-5 season-opening win over Jacksonville.

It’ll be our first chance to see the new-look ‘Cuse women minus their nine graduates from last year, but plus a whole bunch of new faces attempting to step into the void. Kayla Treanor and co. will be playing host to fellow alum Katie Rowan and her UAlbany Great Danes.

The men will look for another strong performance in their second appearance of the season, this time against the Vermont Catamounts in their season opener.

The women get the day started with a 1:30 PM season-opening draw, with the men following with a 6 PM face-off. Both games will be available on ACC Network Extra.

Women vs. UAlbany — 1:30 PM on ACC Network Extra

• All-time series: 18th meeting; Syracuse leads, 17-0
• Meeting last year: Syracuse won, 20-11, on March 19, 2024
• Syracuse last year: 16-6 overall, 8-1 ACC; lost to Boston College, 10-7, in NCAA Semifinals
• UAlbany last year: 8-10 overall, 5-1 America East; lost to Binghamton, 12-11, in AE Finals

Katie Rowan and the Great Danes come to the Dome after an uneven season last year. After taking the program to new heights in 2023 by winning their first-ever NCAA Tournament game (over Virginia, no less), the Danes lost their first five games to open last season.

They rebounded by finishing 8-5, including 5-1 in the America East to win the conference’s regular season title. But they lost in the conference championship game to Binghamton to deny themselves a second-straight trip to the NCAA’s.

The Danes were picked to finish second in the America East preseason poll, receiving one first-place vote behind favorite Binghamton.

They tied with Binghamton for the most selections to the preseason all-conference team, as well, with four players making it. Midfielder Gracie McCauley (37G, .569 SH%), defender Mackenzie Salentre (34GB, 29CT), draw control taker Haley Phalines (110 DC) and goalie Grace Cincebox (.417 SV%, 13.00 GAA) received the preseason honors for UAlbany.

Salentre is the reigning America East Defender of the Year and Cincebox is the Goalie of the Year.

Men vs. Vermont — 6 PM on ACC Network Extra

• All-time series: 4th meeting; Syracuse leads, 3-0
• Meeting last year: Syracuse won, 20-7, on February 3, 2024
• Syracuse last year: 12-6 overall, 3-1 ACC; lost to Denver, 10-8, in NCAA Quarterfinals
• Vermont last year: 8-8 overall, 5-2 America East; lost to UAlbany, 12-11, in AE Finals

For the second year in a row, Vermont is beginning their season on the road at Syracuse. After a two-goal loss in 2023 to the Orange, the Catamounts got routed last year in a 20-7 blowout.

Just like the UAlbany women, they got off to a rough start with a difficult non-conference schedule, starting 1-4 while spending the entire month of February on the road. They also were able to turn it around, finishing the year 7-4 after that bad beginning. They lost in the conference championship game to UAlbany, 12-11, falling a couple goals short of the NCAA Tournament.

The Catamounts have a lot of returners this year for a squad that was picked to finish second in the America East preseason poll, behind favorites UAlbany. However, Vermont was the team that had the most players selected to the preseason all-conference team with six.

The headliner is reigning America East Offensive Player of the Year, Charlie Pope (42G, 52P), a bruising, 225-pound midfielder who tied for the team lead in points last season.

Attacker Luke Reiter (27A, 44P), midfielder Tristan Whitaker (29G, 39P), LSM Jack Combs (70GB, 26CT), defender Eddie Schwasnick (40GB, 20CT) and FOGO Henry Dodge (.581 FO%) are the other Catamounts to garner the recognition.