2

Wolschina and co-captain Mike Lupton invited McNama to a practice, using it as a tryout. McNama, a goalie, impressed in net and continued to practice with the team ahead of the spring season.

“It was super easy to transition in and they played a fairly familiar formation to what I was used to,” said Junior attack Will Manning.

McNama and Manning have been key additions to the team. Manning has been a solid contributor in the attack while McNama stepped up as the starting goalie when Jamie Horton went down. McNama is seen as one of the leaders on the young squad.

“He motivates everyone. He comes up with some great saves in times when we really need it,” Wolschina said.

Off the field, Wolschina and Lupton control the logistics of the team. As co-captains, the duo schedules games and practices.

“I really think they did a great job of pulling everyone together and pulling off a great season,” McNama said.

This season, Syracuse finished 3-6 while competing in the National College Lacrosse League Division-II. It lost its last three games, including a last second defeat against Cornell. Despite the below .500 record, the Orange lost five games by two goals or less. With its captains coming back next season, the team feels it will bounce back, Manning said.

Even though the team has struggled at times, they’ve found ways to bond. At the end of practices, he likes playing six-on-six or touch football. To increase competitiveness the losing team has to do a punishment.

“I feel like those six-on-six times, you’re not afraid to check a little harder, push a little bit more and find that competitiveness,” Manning said. “Even though you do love the defense, it’s your job to make them better and in some ways, I will open up to say I talk my fair share of smack talk.”

These experiences enhance the team’s culture, bringing them closer together.

“(It’s a) really great team culture. It’s a great group of guys,” Lupton said. tswilcox@syr.edu forcing ground balls and playing with more patience — all minor improvements that led to major results.

In her third season, Caira earned Big East Pitcher of the Year honors, posting career bests in appearances (53), wins (35), innings pitched (283.1) and strikeouts (321). The Orange breezed to a 41-11 regular season record and allowed just one run throughout the Big East Tournament. Caira fired a complete game shutout against Louisville in the championship game to secure back-to-back conference titles. In Syracuse’s first NCAA Tournament game, Caira tossed her second straight shutout against LSU, recording the program’s first-ever tournament win.

Caira stayed dominant in her final season. Sitting at 39-13, Syracuse played South Florida in its final regular season home game. Starting in the circle, Caira expected Bulls head coach Ken Eriksen to have an in-depth scouting report on her.

The two faced off during international play when Team USA took on Canada. But whatever Erikson told his players had no effect on the senior, who no-hit the Bulls to earn SU’s 40th win.

“I just felt so calm and comfortable. I really just wanted to make this the best last day ever,” Caira said.

In 2012, Syracuse earned an auto-bid to its third straight NCAA tournament. Caira captured a win and a save as the Orange beat Long Beach State. In the regional finals against No. 2 Arizona State, SU needed to win two straight games to advance. Caira threw a four-hit shutout in game one against the nation’s second-best team, but the Orange fell just short in game two.

“It was a full team effort. It was an amazing opportunity to bring Syracuse on a big stage, and I think we held ourselves with such poise and composure,” Caira said.

When her playing career ended, Caira returned to the Orange as a pitching coach. For the next two seasons, she helped develop players like Stacy Kuwik. Caira improved Kuwik’s change-up to mimic her’s.

“She was always very focused on how I could grow as a pitcher. Honestly, her academic mind being both an athlete but also a student of the game helped me see another way to play,” Kuwik said.

Caira’s impact on the Syracuse softball program and young girls playing the sport is immeasurable. Martin’s daughter, Jenna Martin, was named after Caira, whose father says the Syracuse standout has served as the No. 1 role model for girls’ softball in Ontario for the last 20 years.

Sweitzer’s impact was felt again. She saved an inside shot on a man-up possession for the Hokies, negating the yellow card’s impact. Caroline Little shot down hard but Sweitzer blocked it with her knees. The save would set up Carney’s goal to give SU’s its biggest lead of the game to that point.

But then, Ella Rishko then scored twice in a row to make it 9-7 Syracuse.

With 2:49 remaining in the third, Ward muscled past a defender inside to shoot sidearm across her body, then fell with the momentum. When she got up, it was 10-7 Syracuse. But with 40 seconds until the final period, the Hokies had drawn within one.

Smith ensured SU’s multi-goal lead entering the fourth with a catch and shoot from the outside, making it 11-9 Syracuse entering the fourth. Syracuse attacked in the final period, but Torres kept consistent, blocking multiple shots in the first few minutes.

Three minutes in, Ward put one past Torres from a tough angle. Just in front of the 12-meter base, Ward whipped a sidearm shot into the top left corner of the goal to make it 12-10.

Sweitzer made two straight free-position saves inside of a minute to keep the score at 4-2. Olivia Vergano crashed from the right and the top statistical goalie in the nation went low to meet her. 53 seconds later, she made another save, this time thrusting her stick high at the last second to block another shot from O’Malley.

But, Sweitzer struggled in the third, allowing Blair Guy to complete her hat trick with a freeposition shot at 3:28 remaining in the first half. The back-and-forth affair continued as the score was tied for the fourth time in the half, 5-5.

With 6:13 left in the first half, Vergano tied the game up 4-4 with an unassisted score.

Sierra Cockerille answered for Syracuse, making it 5-4 less than a minute later. Cockerille rolled around the crease to get in front of the goal before spinning back to shake Emma Monte. From right in front of the cage, she placed the ball through the armpit of Torres for an immediate response.

Syracuse extended its advantage when Meaghan found Cockerille for her second goal on as many shots. She finished with a hat trick for the second straight game.

Shortly after, Carney finished a running shot after Smith hit her in stride coming across the zone with 8:50 left in the third. Her second goal of the game gave SU an 8-5 lead.

Between those two third quarter goals,

The Hokies then pulled within one. But, in the clutch, Meaghan answered the goal in just 32 seconds to make it 13-11. And after just 49 seconds, Meaghan had scored again on an unassisted dodge from the top of the 12, making it 14-11.

When SU needed it most, its star player stepped up. And although the final period continued the back-and-forth nature, Syracuse never relinquished its lead. wbmiller@syr.edu @wymill07