Syracuse University
Villanova
Field Hockey Upsets No. 16-Ranked Villanova, 4-3
10/8/2005 7:29:04 PM | Field Hockey
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Junior back Michelle Sola (Blandon, Pa./Oley Valley) scored two goals, while freshman goalkeeper Heather Hess (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) posted a season-high 11 saves as the Syracuse field hockey team upset No. 16-ranked Villanova, 4-3, at Coyne Field. The win was the first for the Orange against Villanova since 2001 and improved SU's record to 7-6 on the season, 2-1 in the BIG EAST Conference. The Wildcats are now 11-3, 2-1 in the league.
Sola scored the game's first goal off a penalty corner just 3:34 into the contest. The Orange penalty-corner unit was on task the entire game, scoring on each of its three attempts in the game, even late in the contest when junior back Jess Wreski (Middletown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) stepped in as the stopper for an injured Jess Dahle (Farmington, Conn./Farmington).
Villanova tied the score at 1-1 less than two and a half minutes later when Catherine Somits stuffed a shot in the cage from inside the circle. The Wildcats took a 2-1 lead at the 25:06 mark when Megan Foster controlled a long hit from Stephanie Campbell right in front of Hess and sent the ball in the cage for the 17th time this season.
With about eight minutes left to play in the first half, Syracuse connected on its second penalty-corner opportunity. Sola's shot was saved by VU goalie Erin Scott, but junior forward Ashley Fry (Douglassville, Pa./Oley Valley) was there to flick the rebound up over Scott and into the goal, tying the score at 2-2.
Syracuse recorded the first goal of the second half when junior forward Megan Stuart (New Holland, Pa./Garden Spot) crashed in hard from the right goalpost on a pass sent to her by Fry at the 52:03 mark. It was Stuart's first goal of the season and first since the 2003 campaign.
The Orange held on to its 3-2 lead until 4:12 remained in the game. On its third penalty-corner attempt of the night, Sola put another hard blast right on goal. She was assisted by junior forward Meg Ryan (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) and Wreski. The goal was Sola's second of the night and fourth in the Orange's last three games. She increased her career goal total to 11. It was the second multiple-goal game of Sola's career.
The Wildcats did not give up. Rory Rogers pulled Villanova to within one goal (4-3) with 3:51 remaining. It was her 13th goal of the season.
Villanova outshot Syracuse, 17-6. Scott finished with one save. The Wildcats had nine penalty corners in the game.
Syracuse will next be in action at Albany on Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 4 p.m.
