Syracuse University’s field hockey squad is set to kick off the 2026 campaign with a five‑game road swing through New England, beginning on Friday, August 28, when it visits Fairfield, Connecticut.
Head coach Lynn Farquhar, now in her fourth year at the helm, enters the season with a career tally of 145 victories, including 38 at Syracuse, and is chasing a 19th consecutive opener win — a streak that skips the pandemic‑shortened 2020‑21 season.
The Orange will test their mettle against two programs that reached the NCAA Tournament last year, Fairfield and Northeastern, while also measuring themselves against a Boston venue that sits roughly 300 miles from campus.
A Fresh Batch of Talent
A wave of fresh talent arrives on the roster, highlighted by Grace Anne McCooey, who brings Princeton championship‑game experience, and Elisa Carvajal, a junior national team member from Chile. They join returning stalwarts such as the Madden twins, Bo and Hattie, who logged over 1,000 minutes in 2025, and freshman Belle van de Pas, the younger sister of 2023 All‑America honoree Pieke van de Pas.
The team’s recent history adds extra intrigue: under Farquhar, Syracuse captured its second NCAA quarterfinal appearance in the first three seasons, having dispatched Liberty in the opening round, and it currently holds a 15‑game nonconference winning streak dating back to a September 2024 victory over Northeastern.
The upcoming stretch not only offers a chance to extend the program’s impressive opener record but also serves as a laboratory for integrating newcomers into a lineup that blends youthful energy with seasoned poise.
Coach Farquhar has emphasized that the early schedule is as much about building chemistry as it is about accumulating wins, and the staff hopes the experience gained in these first five contests will translate into a strong push when conference play begins.
Fans traveling to the Boston venue will notice a markedly different atmosphere, as the program looks to capitalize on the momentum generated by its recent tournament run and the arrival of players who have already tasted high‑stakes competition.