Syracuse University
Portland State
Women's Soccer Earns First Win of Season
9/10/2006 3:55:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Champaign, Ill.- The Syracuse women’s soccer team won its first game of the season, beating Portland State, 1-0, at the Illini Tournament. Redshirt freshman Sara Grimsgaard (Syracuse, N.Y) scored the game-winning goal in the 29th minute, beating the Viking goalie on a low shot to her right side from 28 yards out.
“I told the girls before the game that this was a must-win situation,” head coach Pat Farmer said. “We needed to gain some momentum heading into BIG EAST play. I compared it to the South Florida game last year that we had to win to make it into the BIG EAST Tournament. We needed confidence for the beginning of the conference schedule and we got it.”
Freshman Eliza Bennett-Hattan (Burke, Va.) started the second game of her career and made four saves for her first-career shutout. Sophomores Karrah Benson (Germantown, Md.), Samantha Hawn (Spencerport, N.Y.) and freshman Chelsea Berry (Lowville, N.Y.) were all named to the all-tournament team.
“This was our third game in five days and it took a toll on us,” Farmer added. “We played well today, continued to pressure Portland State after the lead, which is what we didn’t do against Binghamton. We learned how to win a one-goal game. I am very pleased with the way the past three games went.”
The Orange hosts St. John’s on Friday, September 15 at 7:00 p.m. The game opens both the home and BIG EAST schedules for the Orange.
