Syracuse and California to Play at 2 p.m. at Maryland's Artificial Turf Facility
11/7/2001 1:17:25 PM | Field Hockey
The University of Maryland announced game times for the first round NCAA field hockey games it is hosting this weekend at the Artificial Turf Facility. Maryland and Fairfield will play at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 10, while the Syracuse vs. California contest is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. The winners of both games will square off on Sunday, Nov. 11, at 2 p.m.
2001 Syracuse University Field Hockey (15-3, 5-0 BIG EAST)
BIG EAST Regular Season Champions
BIG EAST Tournament Champions
Ranked 18th in the Country
NCAA First Round vs. California
at College Park, Maryland, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2001, 2 p.m.
Head Coach Kathleen Parker
Syracuse head coach Kathleen Parker is in her 24th year at the helm of the Orangewomen program. This season, she earned her fourth BIG EAST Coach of the Year Award after guiding the Orangewomen to a perfect 5-0 conference record during the regular season. She is the only coach in the BIG EAST that has been present on the sidelines for all 13 conference championships. Parker owns a career record of 266-164-14 (.615). She ranks sixth among active Division I coaches in career wins. Only ODU's Beth Anders, UConn's Nancy Stevens, UNC's Karen Shelton, Penn State's Char Morettt and Boston University's Sally Starr have tallied more wins. Parker reached the 250-win milestone on Oct. 13, 2000 when SU defeated Villanova on the road, 5-4, in overtime.
Parker earned the 1991 Mid-East Region Coach of the Year Award and was named the BIG EAST Coach of the Year three-consecutive seasons, from 1993-1995. She is the only coach SU has had since moving to Division I prior to the 1982 season. Since that time, the Orangewomen have gone 228-136-13 (.622).
Syracuse Wins BIG EAST Tournament and Regular Season Crowns
Syracuse won its third BIG EAST Tournament championship and first since 1995 with a 1-0 victory against Villanova on Sunday, Nov. 4. The Orangewomen got by Rutgers, 3-2, in the semifinals held on Nov. 3. This year's tournament was hosted by Boston College. SU has won all three of its league titles in Chestnut Hill, Mass. (1993, 1995, 2001). Syracuse is the only team to qualify for each of the 13 BIG EAST Tournaments. This was the first time SU was the No. 1 seed in the tournament since 1995.
Syracuse claimed the 2001 BIG EAST regular season field hockey championship with a 5-0 record in conference play. It marked the first time the Orangewomen ever went 5-0 in league play.
Kristin Aronowicz Tabbed BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
Junior midfielder Kristin Aronowicz (Exton, Pa./Downingtown) was selected as the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year. She led the conference in goals (16) and finished second in points (35). She became just the third Orangewoman to take home player of the year honors. In 1994, Julie Williamson won the award, followed by Jodi Carter in 1995. Contributing to her 16 goals, were two hat tricks in victories against Quinnipiac and Cornell. The junior is currently tied for eighth on SU's all-time scoring list (74 career points, 32 goals). In the latest national statistics, Aronowicz ranked fifth in goals (16) and goals per game (0.889). She was seventh in points per game (1.944) and tied for 10th in total points (35).
In addition to offensive player of the year honors, Aronowicz headlined the All-BIG EAST First Team. It is her second consecutive season earning first-team laurels. In 1999, she was named the league's Rookie of the Year.
Orangewomen Selected to the 2001 All-BIG EAST Teams
Joining Kristin Aronowicz on the All-BIG EAST First Team was her older sister, Michelle. A senior forward, Michelle Aronowicz (Exton, Pa./Downingtown) was voted to the All-BIG EAST Second Team in 2000. This marks her first appearance on the first team. Michelle Aronowicz is Syracuse's second-leading scorer with 27 points. She leads the squad with 11 assists, which is also a career high.
Senior co-captain Becky Kohler (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra) made her first appearance on the All-BIG EAST First Team. In the spring of 2001, Kohler switched positions from forward to defense because that is where the Orangewomen needed her. She quickly mastered the position and helped lead the Syracuse defense to the lowest goals against average (1.24) in the league this season.
Earning second-team All-BIG EAST honors was junior midfielder Michelle Marks (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) . It was the first conference award for Marks, who is now in her third season as a starter for the Orangewomen. A consistent playmaker, Marks is fourth on the team in scoring with nine points (two goals, five assists).
Michelle Aronowicz Named Most Outstanding Player of the 2001 BIG EAST Tournament
Senior forward and co-captain Michelle Aronowicz (Exton, Pa./Downingtown) earned the BIG EAST Tournament's Most Outstanding Player trophy. She had two goals in the two SU wins. She is SU's third recipient of the award. In 1993, Julie Williamson became the first Orangewoman to win the honor. In 1995, Cheri Herr took home the award. Against Rutgers, Aronowicz scored with 14:38 remaining in the second half to tie the game at 2-2. In the championship match against Villanova, she was responsible for the game's lone tallyl in a 1-0 victory. It was her team-leading fourth game-winning score of the year and 13th game-winner of her career.
Syracuse in the National Statistics
In the Nov. 6th NCAA Division I statistics, Syracuse ranked:
3rd in win percentage (.833) 16th in scoring defense (1.24) 13th in scoring offense (2.64 goals per game) Tied for 11th in margin of victory (1.40) Kristin Aronowicz (T10th in points - 35) Kristin Aronowicz (7th in ppg - 1.94) Kristin Aronowicz (5th in goals - 16) Kristin Aronowicz (5th in goals per game - .889) Michelle Aronowicz (T13th in assists - 11) Michelle Aronowicz (T8th in assists per game - .647) Audrey Latsko (16th in goals against average - 1.30) Audrey Latsko (19th in save percentage - .787)
Syracuse vs. California
Series Record: Syracuse leads, 1-0
First Meeting: Sept. 15, 1997, Syracuse 2, Cal 0 (at Berkeley, Calif.)
Last Meeting: same
SU's Last Win: same
Streak: Syracuse +1
Series Note: In the first-ever meeting between the two teams, SU sophomore Laura Fitzpatrick scored on an assist from Amy Weller at the 14:52 mark of the first half to give SU a 1-0 lead at halftime. In the second period, Weller and Fitzpatrick connected again, this time Weller scored the goal at the 23:25 mark for the 2-0 final. The Orangewomen had 18 shots on goal while Cal had four. SU goalkeeper Sara Clapp had one save. Cal's Karen Hagan totalled 14 saves. SU had a 6-3 advantage in penalty corners.
Syracuse vs. Fairfield
Series Record: Syracuse leads, 2-0
First Meeting: Sept. 10, 2000, Syracuse 2, Fairfield 1 (2OT) (Coyne Field, Syracuse, N.Y.)
Last Meeting: Oct. 1, 2001, Syracuse 5, Fairfield 0 (Fairfield, Conn.)
SU's Last Win: same
Streak: Syracuse +2
Series Note: In the first-ever meeting between the two teams, Fairfield visited SU's Coyne Field during the 2000 season. Fifth-year senior forward Laura Fitzpatrick registered the game-winning goal with 12:28 remaining in the second overtime period to lift the Orangewomen to a 2-1 victory. This season, the two squads met on Oct. 1, in Fairfield. Syracuse won the game, 5-0. Senior forward Michelle Aronowicz propelled Syracuse to its seventh win of the 2001 season with a career-high three goals. Audrey Latsko and Betsy Wagner both saw time in the cage for SU. Latsko turned away four shots, while Wagner stopped five.
Syracuse vs. Maryland
Series Record: Maryland leads, 3-0
First Meeting: 1982, Maryland 2, Syracuse 1(at Rutgers Tournament, Piscataway, N.J.)
Last Meeting: 1984, Maryland 5, Syracuse 1 (at Rutgers)
SU's Last Win: N/A
Streak: Maryland +3
Series Note: Syracuse and Maryland met for the first time during the 1982 season at a tournament held at Rutgers. It was SU's first season playing at the NCAA Division I level. The Terrapins posted a 2-1 victory. In 1983, the Orangewomen traveled to College Park to play in a tournament and lost another 2-1 decision to the Terps. The 1984 season was the last time these two teams met. The game was held at Rutgers and Maryland walked away with a 5-1 triumph.
Kristin Aronowicz Leads Team in Scoring for Second-Straight Season
Junior midfielder Kristin Aronowicz (Exton, Pa.) is leading the team in scoring for the second-straight season. This year, she totalled a career-high 35 points on a personal-best 16 goals. Last season, she registered 11 goals and posted a team-high 26 points. As a sophomore, Aronowicz was selected to the All-BIG EAST First Team. The last time an Orangewomen tallied 16 goals in a season was 1997 when Megan Koons set the school record for goals scored by a sophomore (16). Presently, Aronowicz is tied for third on SU's single-season goals list. Yvonne Milionis holds the single-season record for goals in a season with 22, set in 1990. Kelly Hambleton is second on the list with 17 goals that she totalled in 1999.
Aronowicz cracked the school's top 10 for career scoring this season. Her older sister, Michelle, a senior, currently ranks sixth on the all-time points list, while Kristin is tied for eighth.
Kristin is averaging 1.25 points per game for her career. She is on pace to become SU's all-time leading scorer before she graduates.
Aronowicz Sisters Are Climbing the School's All-Time Scoring Ledger (as of Nov. 6, 2001)
| G | A | Pts | ||
| 1. | Julie Williamson (1991-94) | 33 | 28 | 94 |
| Yvonne Milionis (1988-91) | 42 | 10 | 94 | |
| 3. | Kelly Larkin (1988-91) | 41 | 11 | 93 | 4. | Kelly Hambleton (1996-99) | 34 | 21 | 89 |
| 5. | Shelley Magee (1990-93) | 25 | 35 | 85 |
| 6. | Michelle Aronowicz (1998-) | 32 | 17 | 81 |
| 7. | Jodi Carter (1992-95) | 34 | 11 | 79 |
| 8. | Megan Koons (1996-99) | 34 | 6 | 74 |
| Kristin Aronowicz (1999-) | 32 | 10 | 74 | |
| 10. | Amy Weller (1994-98) | 25 | 19 | 69 |
Perfect at Home
The Orangewomen won all nine games at home this season. The last time SU won all of its home games was 1993. The Orangewomen are winners of their last 10 matches at Coyne Field dating back to Oct. 22, 2000 when they cruised past Quinnipiac, 4-0.
Michelle Aronowicz Leads Team in Assists
Senior forward Michelle Aronowicz (Exton, Pa.) is leading the team in assists this year with a career-high 11 helpers. She is tied for fourth on the school's single-season assists chart and needs one more to take over sole possession of fourth and can move into a tie for third with two more assists this weekend. Maggie Fitzpatrick set the single-season school record for assists with 16 in 1988.
Winner This Weekend Advances to Kent, Ohio
The 2001 semifinals and championship will be hosted by Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. The semifinals are scheduled for Friday, Nov. 16, with the national championship game on Sunday, Nov. 18. The Orangewomen have never advanced past the national quarterfinals. In 1993, they won their first-round game against Pennsylvania, but lost to Penn State in the quarters, 4-0.
Syracuse graduate assistant coach Lori Mastropietro has NCAA Final Four experience as a player. An All-American sweeper for Virginia from 1995-98, Mastropietro helped lead the Cavaliers to the national semifinals in 1997 and 1998. She was named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team in 1998, the same season she won ACC Player of the Year honors.
2001 NFHCA Division I North/South Senior All-Star Game
Senior forward Michelle Aronowicz (Exton, Pa.) has been selected to participate in the 2001 NFHCA North/South Senior All-Star Game. This year's event will be held at Dix Stadium on the campus of Kent State University on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2001. The Division I game will begin at 7:30 p.m. Aronowicz was selected to the North team.
Total Team Effort - Everyone Needed
Seven different Orangewomen have been responsible for SU's 15 game-winning goals this season. In its last eight contests, SU's 22 goals have been registered by nine different players. Eleven players on this year's squad have registered at least three points.
The Goalkeeper Scenario
Syracuse has used both of its goalkeepers this season. Junior Audrey Latsko (Emmaus, Pa.), who was chosen as a third-team All-American in 2000, started SU's first 12 games. She helped the Orangewomen to a 10-2 start. Sophomore goalkeeper Betsy Wagner (Cherry Hills, Colo.) saw her first collegiate minutes at Colgate on Sept. 27. She made her first career start at Providence on Oct. 19, and made nine saves to help the Orangewomen to a 1-0 BIG EAST victory. Wagner started in four-straight contests for SU, before head coach Kathleen Parker decided to go with Latsko's experience for the BIG EAST Tournament. Latsko started and played every minute of the conference championship. Wagner is the owner of a 1.02 goals against average and an .875 save percentage. In the win against Connecticut, Wagner started the game and made two saves in the first half. Latsko replaced her to start the second half. It was Latsko's first game action since the Villanova match on Oct. 14. She played well, stopping eight Husky shots and preserving the 4-1 victory. In the BIG EAST Tournament last weekend, Latsko totalled 12 saves in two games. She had six saves against Rutgers and six versus Villanova. She allowed two goals in the semifinals against the Scarlet Knights and earned her 12th career shutout with a blanking of the Wildcats in the title game.
Second-Half Team
Syracuse has been strong in second halves of games all season. In fact, the Orangewomen have outscored their opponents a combined, 35-9, in second halves and overtimes. More than 70 percent of their scoring has occurred late in games.
SU Enjoyed 10-Game Win Streak
SU won 10-straight games from Sept. 21 - Oct. 21, the longest winning streak since the 1991 Orangewomen won a school-record 12 games in a row.
15 Wins Are the Most Since 1993
The Orangewomen own a 15-3 record. It is the most wins since the 1993 team won a school-record 17 games. This year's winning percentage (.833) is the best since the 1990 team won 85 percent of its games (17-3).
Strong Rookie Class Provides Orangewomen with Great Depth
By now it is no secret how deep head coach Kathleen Parker can go on her bench. All 20 players on the team have seen game action this year.
Four rookies have played in more than 10 games. Two true freshmen and one red-shirt freshman pinned down starting roles this season.
Red-shirt freshman forward Ann-Marie Guglieri (Carmel, NY) has started in 17 of 18 games at left wing for the Orange this year. She is the team's third-leading scorer with 21 points (six goals, nine assists). She is second on the team in assists, serving as SU's primary stopper on penalty corners. Her game-winning goal, was the first marker tallied by an Orangewomen this season in the Albany contest. She recorded SU's game-winning goal with just under six minutes to play with a diving score in the BIG EAST semifinals against Rutgers. She is appreciated by her teammates for her all-out hustle on the field.
Before the season began, the biggest question mark surrounding the team lied with the defense. True freshmen Lindsay Kocher (Collingswood, NJ) and Joanne Lombard (Ambler, Pa.) won starting roles, Lombard as the team's sweeper and Kocher as a halfback. Kocher has started in all 18 games, Lombard in 15 of 17 contests. Lombard adds another dimension to the team. Her strong hit has been used on penalty corners this season. Coach Parker first used her rookie "secret weapon" in the Massachusetts game. With SU trailing the Minutewomen 1-0, Lombard connected on two second-half penalty corners to lift the Orangewomen to victory. Since that UMass contest, Lombard has scored two more goals (against Villanova and Connecticut) to catapult herself into a tie for fifth on the team in scoring with junior Missy Grosman (Emmaus, Pa.). Both players have eight points on the season.
Adding some offensive spark have been first-year forwards Brittany Carriero (Setauket, NY) and Meredith Gettel (Rehresburg, Pa.). They each have three goals and one assist on the season for seven points. Gettel put in two goals against Quinnipiac. She also scored against Albany. Carriero's tallies came against the likes of West Chester, Fairfield and Connecticut.
Start of a BIG EAST Dynasty?
The BIG EAST regular season and tournament champions lose only three players to graduation this year (Michelle Aronowicz, Caylyn Dicruttalo and Alex Wise). Back for the 2002 season will be nine starters. Co-captain Becky Kohler, although listed as a senior, has one year of eligibility remaining and plans to play next season. She will be back to anchor the "D" along with the entire starting backfield and two capable goalies. The midfield should be solid once again with Kristin Aronowicz, Michelle Marks and Jackie Sheaffer. Guglieri and Emily Smith both return with starting experience at forward.
