The Syracuse Orange women’s lacrosse team saw their season end in heartbreak on Sunday afternoon, as a commanding six-goal lead evaporated in a stunning 11-10 overtime loss to Navy in the NCAA Tournament Second Round at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

For the first 40 minutes, everything clicked. The Orange offense was firing on all cylinders, building a 9-3 halftime lead and stretching it to 10-4 early in the third quarter. Caroline Trinkaus was unstoppable, scoring four first-half goals and finishing with six points on the day. Molly Guzik added a hat trick, while Mackenzie Rich chipped in three points and Emma Muchnick contributed a goal and an assist. The team looked like they were on the cusp of a quarterfinal berth.

But lacrosse is a game of momentum, and Navy seized it with both hands. The Midshipmen made a critical goalie switch after Syracuse’s ninth goal, and the Orange offense suddenly went cold. Navy also mixed in more zone defense, a wrinkle that Syracuse couldn’t solve. The result? The Orange were outscored 8-1 after halftime, surrendering the final seven goals of the game. Syracuse never even touched the ball in overtime.

It was a devastating end to what had been a promising season. The Orange looked unstoppable in the first half, scoring on nine of their first 10 shots on goal. But when the second half whistle blew, the momentum shifted, and Syracuse had no answers. The slow-motion collapse left players, coaches, and fans wondering what might have been.

For a team that showed so much offensive firepower early, the inability to close out a game they controlled for so long is a tough pill to swallow. As the Orange head into the offseason, they’ll carry the sting of this loss—and the lesson that in tournament play, no lead is safe.