SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Georgetown University women's lacrosse team (12-8) will continue NCAA Championship play on Sunday in a second round matchup against fifth-seeded Syracuse University at the SU Soccer Stadium in Syracuse, New York.  The opening draw is scheduled for 3 p.m.  GU advanced to the second round for the first time since 2014 with a 13-12 double overtime victory over the University of Pennsylvania Quakers on Friday afternoon in the first round matchup.  It marked GU's second consecutive double overtime win.
 
Senior attacker Taylor Gebhardt (Baldwinsville, N.Y. / C.W. Baker) led the way against the Quakers with seven goals and one assist for eight points, she also tallied the game winner with two seconds remaining in double overtime.  Junior attacker Michaela Bruno (Garden City, N.Y. / Garden City) notched a hat trick, and senior midfielder Francesca Whitehurst (Baltimore, Md. / Roland Park Country School) had a goal and three assists along with seven draw controls on the afternoon.
 
The Hoyas were outshot 35-27 but pulled in 15 draw controls to Penn's 14.  The Blue & Gray committed 21 turnovers and forced 13 by the Quakers.  In the cage, senior Haelle Chomo (Naples, Fla. / Barron Collier) was a force with 10 saves to her credit with many coming in key situations.
 
Whitehurst and Gebhardt lead the team in scoring with 72 and 69 points, respectively.  Whitehurst has 41 goals and a squad-best 31 assists, while Gebhardt has managed a team-high 50 goals with 19 assists on the season. They are followed by senior Morgan Ryan (Maplewood, N.J. / Oak Knoll School) in third with 45 goals and three assists, while Bruno is fourth with 33 goals to go along with 13 assists on the year.
 
Whitehurst has 77 draw controls and junior Natalia Lynch (Smithtown, N.Y. / Smithtown West) is second with 51. Lynch has 25 caused turnovers on the year while junior defender Katie Hudson (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. / Cold Spring Harbor) has managed 23 and Noelle Peragine (Northport, N.Y. / Northport) has 22.  In goal, Chomo has played a majority of the minutes in the cage with 132 saves and a 10.32 goals-against average for the season.
 
Syracuse has won nine of its last 11 contests and enters the NCAA Tournament with a 15-4 record. After starting the season ranked No. 15 in the coaches preseason poll, the Orange have climbed to as high as No. 3 in the national rankings. Syracuse tied for second in the ACC with a 5-2 league record. The Orange advanced to the semifinals of the conference tournament where they lost to Boston College, 14-13.  Overall, Syracuse will make its 17th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, the Orange have an all-time record of 17-16 in tournament play.
 
The Hoyas are 14-8 all-time against the Orange but have not met since 2013.  The squads have played twice in the NCAA Tournament, both first round meetings, and have a 1-1 record.  The last meeting was a 14-7 Syracuse victory in the BIG EAST Championship game on the Hilltop.  The last meeting in New York was a 7-6 Hoya loss in the BIG EAST Semifinals.  Georgetown is 5-3 all-time at Syracuse.
 
This marks Georgetown's 16th trip to the NCAA Tournament and the second consecutive. The Blue & Gray is 15-15 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. The furthest the Hoyas have advanced is to the championship game in both 2001 and 2002.
 
The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3 and live stats will be available at www.GUHoyas.com.  Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for youth ages 18 and under and for students from participating institutions.  They can be purchased through WeAreGeorgetown.com or at the stadium.