How Emma Ward Found Her Calling on the Lacrosse Field Thu May 27 2021 | Justin Feil | College Emma Ward wears No. 44 as a connection to her father, but she also understands the significance of those famed digits at Syracuse. “I know 44 is a big Syracuse number — Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, Floyd Little,” Syracuse’s freshman attacker said. “I knew it was a big number here at ‘Cuse.” No. 44 may be retired by the Syracuse football program, but it was available for lacrosse. Ward was quick to pick it. “When I was in high school, I wore 44 during basketball because my dad wore 44 when he played high school basketball, too,” Ward said. “It’s kind of a family number, but over the summer choosing numbers, I thought it would be cool to carry on the legacy that I had with my dad wearing it and me wearing it for basketball, and once I finally got to Syracuse, I realized the significance of 44 and how it’s super cool to be able to wear the number.”