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Syracuse University
Connecticut
Field Hockey Loses 3-2 Decision to #12 UConn
10/23/2005 4:21:38 PM | Field Hockey
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Rebecca Helwig used a long shot from the top of the circle with 16:19 remaining in the second half to deflate any hopes of a Syracuse comeback as the No. 12-ranked Connecticut field hockey team defeated Syracuse, 3-2, at Coyne Field. It was the final BIG EAST Conference game of the regular season for the Orange, who finished the league portion of its schedule with a 3-2 mark. The Huskies improved to 13-4 overall, 3-1 in the BIG EAST with one conference game remaining against Providence next weekend. A rematch between Syracuse and Connecticut might lie in store as both teams are nearly assured a spot in the BIG EAST Tournament Championship Nov. 4 & 6 at Rutgers.
The Huskies led 1-0 at halftime when Meagan Hoffmann scored off a broken penalty-corner play at the 20:53 mark. SU freshman goalie Heather Hess (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) stopped the initial corner shot, but Hoffmann crashed in on the rebound from the left goalpost and quickly got a shot off using her reverse stick. Hess made another stop, but Hoffmann stayed with the play and regained her own rebound. She sent the ball into the lower right corner of the cage.
In the second half, Kristin Galuski gave UConn a 2-0 lead with an unassisted goal at the 36:55 mark.
Syracuse (9-8, 3-2 BIG EAST) knew it had to make the most of its scoring chances after being limited to just three shots and one corner in the first half. It did just that midway through the second period, capitalizing on two penalty corner opportunities. Junior back Michelle Sola (Blandon, Pa./Oley Valley) put the Orange on the scoreboard with 18:23 remaining in the contest with a direct penalty-corner shot. She drilled a second one two minutes later to tie the game at 2-2. Meg Ryan (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) and Jess Dahle (Farmington, Conn./Farmington), two instrumental members of the penalty-corner unit, were credited with assists on both goals.
Connecticut called timeout after Sola's second goal and within 34 seconds of breaking huddle, the Huskies were back on top thanks to Helwig's goal which would stand up as the game-winner.
Hess finished with seven saves for Syracuse, while Melissa Bostwick ended up with three saves (all in the first half).
Sola has scored eight goals in Syracuse's last seven games. She moved into a tie for second place on the team's stat sheet in points with 21. She ranks third on the team this year in goals with eight. For her career, she owns 15 goals.
The Orange remains at home for its final two regular-season games against Cornell and Dartmouth. The Big Red will visit Coyne Field at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 26, while the Big Green comes to town on Sunday, Oct. 30, for a 1:30 p.m. start.
#12 Connecticut 3, Syracuse 2
UConn 1-2=3
Syracuse 0-2=2
First Half Scoring:
UConn - Meagan Hoffmann (unassisted) - 20:53
Second Half Scoring:
UConn - Kristin Galuski (unassisted) - 36:55
Syracuse - Michelle Sola (Meg Ryan/Jess Dahle) - 51:37
Syracuse - Michelle Sola (Meg Ryan/Jess Dahle) - 53:07
UConn - Rebecca Helwig (unassisted) - 53:41
Shots: Connecticut 14, Syracuse 5
Saves: Syracuse 7 (Heather Hess), Connecticut 3 (Melissa Bostwick)
Penalty Corners: Connecticut 9, Syracuse 3
Attendance: 187
