Syracuse University
Rutgers
Field Hockey Wins BIG EAST Opener Against Rutgers, 5-1
9/16/2005 9:09:42 PM | Field Hockey
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Junior forward Meg Ryan (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) scored a career-high two goals and added an assist to help the Syracuse field hockey team to a 5-1 victory against Rutgers at Coyne Field. It was the first BIG EAST Conference game for both teams.
Syracuse (3-3, 1-0) got out to a quick 3-0 start early in the first half. The first goal put up on the scoreboard came just 5:18 into the contest as senior forward Paige Sullivan (Lebanon, Pa./Lebanon) used a reverse-stick shot to redirect sophomore forward Jessica Lerew's (York Springs, Pa./Bermudian Springs) crossing pass. Sullivan has now scored a goal in the Orange's last three games.
Thirty-four seconds later, sophomore midfielder Courtnie Geissler (Leesport, Pa./Schuylkill Valley) netted her first collegiate goal to put SU ahead, 2-0. Syracuse quickly got the ball back into its offensive end of the field after scoring its first goal. The ball scooted across the cage and out of the circle, but Sullivan collected it and found senior midfielder Jessica Dahle (Farmington, Conn./Farmington) up top, who passed the ball to Geissler. Geissler charged to the goal with one or two dribbles and sent a hard shot at the cage.
At the 13:23 mark of the first half, Ryan corralled a Michelle Sola (Blandon, Pa./Oley Valley) penalty-corner shot and sent it home to give the Orange a 3-0 advantage.
The Scarlet Knights cut into that lead with a penalty-corner goal by Amy Lewis with 10:27 remaining in the half. Jocelyn Mattina and Corinne Bach were the dragger and stopper involved.
SU led, 3-1, at halftime.
Rutgers (4-3, 0-1) generated five penalty corners in the game. The Scarlet Knights caught Syracuse back on its heels early in the second half. Sola recorded a defensive save on a Rutgers penalty-corner shot early in the second period.
The Orange's next goal did not come until the 61:09 mark. Junior forward Ashley Fry (Douglassville, Pa./Oley Valley) had just taken two shots on goal and then finally connected for her fifth score of the season from inside the circle off a feed from Ryan.
Ryan finished off the scoring with 4:30 remaining in the game with an unassisted goal. She sent a high shot into the back of the net.
Syracuse outshot Rutgers, 12-8. Freshman goalkeeper Heather Hess (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) started the game and made four saves before giving way to sophomore goalie Marie O'Brien (Burlington, Ontario/Assumption) who played the game's final nine minutes in goal.
Rutgers goalkeeper Rosalyn Wentko played the entire 70 minutes and recorded four saves.
The Orange remain at home for a 1 p.m. game against Hofstra on Sunday, Sept. 18.
