SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — The Syracuse women’s lacrosse team sits just one win away from an undefeated regular season. The Orange host Boston College this Thursday to close out the regular season. SU already announced it will host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament at the SU Soccer Stadium in May due to graduation. Syracuse decided to move Thursday’s matchup to the outdoor venue too. Head coach Kayla Treanor says, “We are going to play a lot of games for the rest of the season, so we just want to prepare as best we can.”
The switch is not just from an inside to an outside venue. It’s also from turf to grass. Studies in years past suggest the all-natural surface could provide relief for an injury-ridden S-U team, but Syracuse professor Kristen Konkol says that turf alone cannot be blamed for more injuries compared to grass. “We can take a look at the surface, and I don’t think the surface you can factor out entirely,” said Konkol. “But I do we can’t say it’s the surface alone.”
According to the exercise science professor, consistency in training and playing conditions are also factors. “Even in the ACC, all the turf isn’t the same, right, so again I think consistency is going to be a key, whether it’s grass and or turf. I think the second thing, again, would be footwear,” said Konkol. She adds that weather conditions can also impact injury risks too.
