No. 13 Syracuse Knocks Off No. 5 Louisville

Saturday, October 11

Syracuse, N.Y.

11 a.m.

Syracuse University

(9-3, 1-3)

#5 Louisville

(10-3, 3-2)

Louisville

Syracuse

10/11/2014 2:14:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

Freshman midfielder Laura Hurff with two goals

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The No. 13 Syracuse field hockey team used a complete performance on both ends of the pitch to score a 3-1 victory against No. 5 Louisville on Saturday morning at J.S. Coyne Stadium. It marked the squad's first win in 2014 conference play and against a nationally ranked opponent this season.

"I am really proud of our kids," head coach Ange Bradley stated. "They worked really hard. The last couple of weeks, we have been growing. I am just so happy for them to get a result."

Syracuse (9-3, 1-3) was dominant on both sides of the ball against Louisville (10-3, 3-2). The Orange held a 19-7 edge in shots, including 16 on frame. SU also held Louisville scoreless for more than 67 minutes of the contest.

"I thought we had a very good game plan put in place," added Bradley. "The kids believed in. They believed in themselves and they executed. At the end of the day, we were aggressive and we came out to play like we are a viable contender for an ACC championship."

Freshman midfielder Laura Hurff had a career day, recording a career-best two goals against the Cardinals. Junior forward Emma Russell recorded tally that would put the club ahead for good, her eighth goal of the 2014 campaign.

Hurff started the scoring in the 28th minute of action. Classmate back Annalena Ulbrich sent a shot towards the Louisville net. Hurff redirected the shot past the keeper to put the Orange ahead 1-0.

Leading 1-0 out of the halftime break, Syracuse carried over its momentum from the first half. Junior midfielder Alyssa Manley broke away from the Louisville defense in the 39th minute. Manley found Russell to her left side and Russell chipped the ball over the Louisville goalkeeper to extend the SU advantage.

10 minutes later, Hurff added one more. Senior forward Lauren Brooks was driving on the end line. Brooks found Hurff settled at the stroke spot, fed her a pass, and Hurff completed the play to give Syracuse a commanding 3-0 lead.

Louisville eventually broke through the Syracuse defense with less than three minutes remaining. Sophomore midfielder Lotta Kahlert stole a ball from the SU backs and put it past Orange junior goalkeeper Jess Jecko. That would be all the offense the Cardinals would find.

Cardinals junior goalkeeper Sydney King was tested throughout, coming up with 13 saves. Jecko finished with two stops on the day.

The club is back in action on Sunday afternoon at in-state foe Cornell. The game is set to begin at 2 p.m. in Ithaca.