Resilient Delaney Sweitzer Playing Like Nation's Top Goalie

When Kayla Treanor took the reins at Syracuse in the summer of 2021, one of her first orders of business was figuring out who would replace Asa Goldstock in net. The program’s all-time saves leader had started every game but one since 2019.

Treanor looked at the transfer portal. Delaney Sweitzer’s name came up. The former USA Lacrosse High School All-American out of Chestnut Hill Academy had played in three games at USC. But it wasn’t the playing time weighing on Sweitzer when she decided to transfer. The COVID-19 pandemic had shifted her priorities, and the six-hour flight from California to Philly to see her family felt unsustainable.

“I wanted my family to be as much a part of this journey as they had in the past,” Sweitzer said. “Being closer to home and them being able to come to games is amazing.”

She wasn’t the only Sweitzer in the portal. Her twin sister, Savannah, a midfielder who made three starts in 2021, was also looking for a change.

“I had so many people reach out on their behalf, people I trust, to talk about their character,” Treanor said. “After that, it became a no-brainer.”

Delaney Sweitzer says the sisters decided to transfer and attend Syracuse separately, but sticking together felt right in the end. Ditto for playing for Treanor, someone the sisters idolized, like many of today’s college players.

“We were such fan girls of hers,” the goalie said. “She’s amazing not just as a player but as a person. Seeing how hard she has worked throughout her lacrosse journey is really inspiring … having her guidance was a dream come true, honestly.”

Over the next 18 months, Delaney Sweitzer would have to trust Treanor’s guidance — even when it was hard. She wasn’t the only netminder Treanor brought in that summer. Kimber Hower, who had just missed the 2019 U.S. U19 national team cut, transferred in from North Carolina.

“I love a good competition and to battle it out,” Sweitzer said. “As a goalie, the position is hard enough. It’s a mental position … I had the mindset that I was going to continue to do the little things.”

Both goalies impressed. Treanor initially decided to employ a two-goalie system, which worked for UNC when the Tar Heels won the 2016 national title with Caylee Waters and Megan Ward in net. Sweitzer started and played the first half of Syracuse’s first five games. But after an overtime loss to Northwestern, Treanor pivoted. Hower started the rest of the season, with Sweitzer seeing limited action in eight more games.

“We just weren’t getting a save percentage that we were looking to get,” Treanor said. “We felt we may not be helping either one of them, so we went with the one goalie. Obviously, that was probably tough for Delaney, but at the time, I felt it was something we needed to try.”

Treanor says it’s hard not to root for Sweitzer because of her work ethic and team-first attitude. The latter is a term Sweitzer used numerous times when interviewed for this story. But she’s also a competitor. Getting benched was a challenge.

“It’s obviously difficult,” Sweitzer said. “You want to be on the field — everyone does.”

But true to form, she quickly added, “The team comes first. I wanted the team to succeed, so I valued and trusted what my coaches were telling me. I said that a lot to them, ‘I really do trust what you are doing.’ It motivated me to find ways to improve.”

That motivation went into overdrive during the summer when Sweitzer leaned into the work ethic Treanor applauds and credits her parents for instilling in her. Her sister took shots on her. They worked with a coach and trainer, playing an hour of lacrosse and doing an hour of strength work multiple times per week. She hit the wall and worked on her clearing game. Delaney Sweitzer also took time to shift her perspective on the sport.

“I took the time to step back and appreciate the opportunity to play at such a high level,” she said. “Lacrosse doesn’t define me as a person. Knowing that and that I was going to give it my all every day has helped me improve in different ways.”

She felt good physically and mentally heading into fall ball. But a series of knee injuries had her once again watching from the sidelines. Even with the mental work she did during the summer, it felt like a setback, but the evolved Sweitzer found a silver lining.

“It was very difficult at first, knowing how hard I worked in the summer and how eager I was to show my coaches and teammates how much I improved,” she said. “I think the injury was a blessing in disguise. It made me more present in my life … during that time, I really focused on embracing rehab.”

Sweitzer got back on the field toward the end of the fall and continued to impress during the preseason. Treanor’s ability to score on goalies is legendary. But the world champion attacker has a pretty straightforward benchmark when evaluating the position.

“It’s quite simple — can we make stops?” Treanor said

Sweitzer was making stops, so Treanor tapped her to start in a preseason game against Michigan. She stood out.

“She came in and made a bunch of saves,” Treanor said. “She was ready to play in a game that we didn’t play great in that preseason scrimmage. There were good things, but if we were to reflect on it, the team would probably say we didn’t play great. She was a highlight.”

Delaney’s fast hands, presence in the cage and fearless willingness to get hit with the ball were on full display against Michigan. So was another recently-improved aspect of her game — one that would help the Orange’s touted offense become one of the nation’s toughest to stop in 2023.

“She allows us to play a certain style of lacrosse with her being able to get the ball out quickly on the clear,” Treanor said. “The other thing that makes her so special is that she is the ultimate teammate. She’s pretty dynamic and unstoppable.”

Syracuse’s offense ranks third in Division I, averaging more than 17 goals per game. Meaghan Tyrrell is second nationally in points per game at 5.71, behind her likely biggest challenger for the Tewaaraton Award, Izzy Scane (7.08 points per game).

But the Orange’s defense is having itself a year, too, sitting tied for 10th in goals allowed per game (8.71). Sweitzer leads the ACC and ranks second nationally in save percentage (54.9%). She is first in the conference and fifth in Division I in goals-against average (7.95). Numbers don’t lie — it’s safe to say that the defense has been an anchor in Syracuse’s 14-0 start.

“It just comes down to our connection and communication with each other,” Sweitzer said. “We’ve been very adaptable. We all have trust in each other, and it’s shown on the field. Everyone is going to do their job and role before the ball comes to me. We never focus on the goal that was scored. We’re focused and prepared for the next one.”

Getting prepared for the next one has been an overarching theme for the Orange in 2023. This week, the next one is a date with defending ACC and national champion North Carolina. Syracuse enters the meeting hot — but don’t tell the team that.

“Something we have talked about all year is being neutral in games, not being too hot or too cold but being consistent,” Treanor said. “We’re focused on one game at a time. We play the toughest schedule in the country. Every game is a tough opponent. You don’t have time to get too high on yourself. Every week you have a new, really big opponent.”

But Treanor is undoubtedly high on her starting goalie.

“We have so many amazing players, but she’s certainly one of the most valuable,” Treanor said. “She’s playing like the best goalie in the country. She’s so consistent for us.”