As the calendar year begins to wind down, we’re inching closer to a new lacrosse season in 2026.
Along those lines, the Syracuse Orange women’s lacrosse team recently made announcements for the upcoming
year in the form of their team captains and their slate of home games.
Last week, SU and head coach Regy Thorpe revealed the team’s four captains for next season. The group is made up of senior midfielder Emma Muchnick, senior defender Coco Vandiver, junior defender Kaci Benoit and junior midfielder Joely Caramelli. Muchnick and Benoit are returning as captains from last year’s team, while Vandiver and Caramelli are taking on the role for the first time.
All four upperclassmen are coming off excellent seasons in 2025.
Muchnick set new career highs in goals (34), points (41), ground balls (27) and caused turnovers (9) on her way to earning First Team All-ACC and All-American honors.
Vandiver, a starter since day one of her freshman season, also earned All-American honors last year thanks to her career-high 40 caused turnovers, the second-highest single-season number in SU history.
Like her defensive mate, Benoit has also been a starter since the beginning of her career. Last season, she finished with career-highs in ground balls (34) and draw controls (13) to go along with 12 caused turnovers as she earned All-ACC Third Team accolades.
Caramelli posted career highs in virtually every statistical category as a sophomore last year, including goals (16), assists (4), points (20), ground balls (23), caused turnovers (11) and draw controls (39) as a do-everything midfielder for this team.
Last month, the school announced the opponents who will make up ’Cuse’s 2026 home schedule.
The Orange’s Dome slate is set for eight games, including five ACC battles and three non-conference tilts.
It’s a difficult group, for the most part, highlighted by the defending national champion North Carolina Tar Heels heading up the ACC opposition. They’re joined by Cal, Virginia Tech, Pitt and Notre Dame to round out the conference games.
The non-conference home schedule features its usual top-tier competition with familiar foes Maryland, Loyola and Yale set to invade the Dome.
First-year head coach Regy Thorpe and his talented, young roster will definitely be tested as they look to step back up from last year’s 10-9 campaign. Further details on the dates of the entire schedule will be released later this year or early next.
