Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our sports newsletter here.

Olivia Adamson’s been a consistent piece through Kayla Treanor’s four-year tenure. She’s the only Syracuse player to record 10 or more goals in each of Treanor’s years at the helm, and with a natural progression each year, Adamson’s become a focal point of SU’s offense.

“She’s one of the best finishers I’ve ever coached,” Treanor said of Adamson on April 5, 2024.

Adamson’s trajectory into a primary goal scorer continued in Syracuse’s first three games of 2025, recording 16 points, second on SU. However, the Tewaaraton Award watch list member suffered a season-ending lower-body injury, possibly ending her SU career and throwing a wrench into its season.

With the senior sidelined, No. 10 Syracuse (3-3, 0-2 Atlantic Coast) is searching for answers to replace her production. So far, SU’s struggled to get anything going, averaging eight goals and 15 turnovers per game en route to its first three-game losing streak in seven years.

”This is something that we’re gonna have to work through,” Treanor said of Adamson’s absence. “Our offense is definitely a new look, and we’re gonna have to develop chemistry with some new faces.”

Following SU’s 3-0 start, a road bout with No. 2 North Carolina meant the Orange would need all hands on deck. Yet, Adamson remained on the sidelines despite no signs of a clear injury in Syracuse’s previous three games.

Her status was unclear until an SU Athletics spokesperson labeled her as “unavailable” before its matchup with No. 3 Northwestern. Treanor later confirmed the same postgame. Three days later, it was announced Adamson was done for the season.

Totaling 58 goals and 83 points as a junior in 2024, Adamson was primed to be a top-scoring threat following the departure of leading scorer Emma Tyrrell. Adamson’s role with the Orange has progressed each season, going from a secondary option as a freshman to one of their main threats. Adamson said this past offseason, she specifically worked more on dodging and fine-tuning her shot.

Her pinpoint accuracy always defined her game, but it worked especially well alongside Emma Ward, SU’s lead facilitator. The duo combined for 33 points through three games, nearly 40% of Syracuse’s offense. While operating through Ward, Adamson’s elite finishing opened lanes for others, making the attack more dynamic.

“It’s a shared offense,” Treanor said after SU’s win over Cornell. “This is not a one-person show. Everybody that’s on the field is a threat, so we have a lot of balance.”

Jordan Kimball | Asst. Copy Editor

Once Adamson exited, the Orange looked like they needed a one-person show to survive. Hampered by a poor draw control performance and an elite Tar Heels’ attack, SU failed to generate offense. Syracuse pinned a 17-minute scoreless stretch from the first quarter to the second and a 15-minute one from the end of the second to a minute left in the third.

To make matters worse, when SU did get chances, it failed to capitalize. The Orange finished with a season-worst .296 shooting percentage, way under their previous average of .592.

One of the lone bright spots of Syracuse’s loss to UNC was freshman Molly Guzik. The No. 11 recruit in the 2024 class scored two goals, pushing her total to five for the year. Alongside Guzik in the freshman class are Caroline Trinkaus and Mileena Cotter. Trinkaus scored a hat trick against Maryland and has notched 15 points through six games, while Cotter has chipped in with five goals.

With Adamson sidelined, SU’s freshman class now plays a more significant role. Ward likened the situation to her freshman year in 2021. At the time, top scorers Megan Carney and Emily Hawryschuk suffered season-ending injuries and thrust Ward into action. She responded by collecting 73 points to help Syracuse to an NCAA title game appearance.

Ward said it’s about everyone doing their part outside of simply scoring. In three games with Adamson, the freshman trio tallied 23 points. Since her exit, they have seven.

“We’re a young team, but they’re going to learn quick,” Ward said after SU’s loss to the Wildcats. “I’m excited for the future to watch them grow because I remember being in their shoes and how nervous but how exciting it was.”

Versus NU, it was the same story for SU, with its stagnant attack not taking advantage of its limited opportunities. The Orange had zero shots on goal in the first quarter and was held scoreless for the first time since their ACC Tournament Semifinal loss to Boston College last season. Northwestern goalie Delaney Sweitzer wasn’t forced to make a save until 11:22 left in the second frame.

SU managed to claw its way back into the game during the second and third quarters. However, the Orange didn’t have the star power to match Northwestern’s Madison Taylor in the biggest moments.

While it was held to single digits against two top-three teams, Syracuse had a chance at a fresh start against then-No. 12 Clemson. Despite jumping out to a 2-1 lead with two goals in 13 seconds, the Orange once again went cold and couldn’t recover.

The Orange are looking for a new chemistry, so Treanor tinkered with the offense in search of a possible spark. She moved Joely Caramelli from midfield to attack. She experimented with the explosiveness of freshman Annie Parker and threw in Ashlee Volpe despite the sophomore entering the contest with zero college appearances.

Again, Syracuse’s draw struggles allowed the Tigers to dominate possession. But in its set attack, SU committed 16 turnovers, adding to its third-worst mark per game in the ACC, leading to another defeat.

With Adamson out, the Orange’s offense has played at a diminished level. Ward has proven she’ll continue to produce, scoring at least three points in each contest since Adamson’s exit, but the explosiveness of the attack is severely limited without their best scoring threat.

It’s tough to blame Syracuse for struggling without Adamson. Though, as Ward pointed out from her early days with the program, past Syracuse teams have lost a top piece and adjusted accordingly.

The Orange have already dropped their first three games without Adamson and are plummeting on Inside Lacrosse’s weekly poll at a program-worst rate. With a challenging schedule ahead, time is running out to replicate her production.

Published on March 5, 2025 at 11:14 pm

Contact Aiden at: amstepan@syr.edu | @AidenStepansky