Syracuse University
Massachusetts
Parker Wins 300th Game, Field Hockey Beats UMass, 2-0
9/30/2005 9:02:48 PM | Field Hockey
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse University field hockey coach Kathleen Parker became the sixth active NCAA Division I mentor to record 300 wins as her 2005 Orange defeated Massachusetts, 2-0, at Coyne Field on Sept. 30. Parker is in her 28th season as head coach at Syracuse. She owns a career record of 300-202-14. Only Beth Anders (Old Dominion), Nancy Stevens (Connecticut), Karen Shelton (North Carolina), Char Morett (Penn State) and Sally Starr (Boston University) have more wins.
"At the end of the game, my attention was called to the stands," said Parker following a photo with her team and an imitation Gatorade dump by some of her student-athletes. "Two of my former players yelled out, 'Congratulations on 300, Coach Parker! We were here for win No. 1.' And they were. One was a freshman when I was a freshman. They live in the area and they continue to come out, follow the team and support the program. That's what makes it special - all the people who got me here. Now I'm looking forward to win No. 301."
Parker's team was slow to find its groove against the Minutewomen. The two teams played through a scoreless first half. Each team mustered just one shot during the first 35 minutes.
It looked like much of the same early in the second period until the Orange hit its stride. SU wore down UMass with eight second-half shots and four penalty corners. Junior back Michelle Sola (Blandon, Pa./Oley Valley) scored her first goal of the season off a penalty corner (the Orange's sixth of the game) with 18:36 remaining in the contest. She was assisted by dragger Meg Ryan (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) and stopper Jess Dahle (Farmington, Conn./Farmington).
Syracuse (5-6) scored its second goal after Sola dribbled into the circle from up top. She slipped, but was able to get a shot off. Her attempt went left where junior Ashley Fry (Douglassville, Pa./Oley Valley) tried to control, but teammate Paige Sullivan (Lebanon, Pa./Lebanon) had a better look at the ball and sent it in for her seventh goal of the season.
The Orange outshot UMass, 9-1, and held a 6-1 advantage in penalty corners. Massachusetts goalkeeper Becky Letourneau had six saves, including five in the second half. SU freshman Heather Hess (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) played all 70 minutes but was not needed to make any saves. The lone UMass attempt went wide.
The Minutewomen are now 3-8.
SU returns to action on Wednesday, Oct. 5, at Colgate. Game time is 7 p.m. There will be a live, free internet radio broadcast of the game. The broadcast will begin at 6:50 p.m. and is available at www.sportsjuice.com/providers/colgate
