Meaghan Tyrell’s six-goal performance led No. 4 Syracuse to a commanding 18-6 win over Pitt on Saturday afternoon at the Carrier Dome. Pitt is now 6-7 and is still looking for its first ACC win in its inaugural season.
Pitt got out to a strong start and led 4-2 at the end of the first quarter after Kierin Ratliff-Kailbourne scored a goal as time expired. It was Ratliff-Kailbourne’s second goal of the opening period. Things went downhill in the second quarter for the Panthers, however, as they got out-scored 5-0.
After being held scoreless for nearly 10 minutes, Syracuse’s Tyrrell buried one into the back of the net to cut Pitt’s lead to 4-3 at the 11:00 minute mark of the second quarter. Tyrrell struck again a few minutes later as she cut to the net and ripped one past Paulina DiFatta to tie the game at 4-4. It was Tyrell’s third goal of the first half.
Syracuse took the lead midway through the second quarter and it was a Tyrrell-to-Tyrrell connection, as Meghan Tyrell had an assist on her sister Emma’s goal. Emma Tyrrell followed with a goal on a free position to enhance Syracuse’s lead to 6-4. It was Emma Tyrell’s 30th goal of the season. Emily Hawryschuk scored her second goal of the afternoon with a wrist shot to put Syracuse up 7-4 a halftime. The Tyrrell sisters had five goals in the first half.
To open the second half, Katelyn Mashewske won the draw and scored in transition off a give-and-go to give Syracuse an 8-4 lead. Savannah Sweitzer followed with scoring on a free position, as she just ripped one from the eight-meter line past DiFatta.
Near the end of the third quarter, Pitt got its first goal since the first quarter as Ava Washington powered her way to the front of the net and buried it to cut Syracuse’s lead to 9-5.
Early in the fourth, Hawryschuk scored on a fast break to put Syracuse up 13-5. The goal also gave Hawryschuk a hat trick on the afternoon. With a player down, Hawryschuk scored her fourth goal of the game with a power shot to give Syracuse a 14-5 advantage. After leading Syracuse in the first quarter, Pitt was just overmatched the rest of the game, and the Orange breezed to a 12-point win. Eight different Syracuse players scored goals and the Orange out-shot Pitt, 41-21.
Pitt’s next game is on Saturday, April 9, against Louisville at Highmark Stadium. The start time for the game is at 12 p.m.
