Women's Soccer Comes Home
9/14/2006 4:19:37 PM | Women's Soccer
The Syracuse women's soccer team is already six games into its 2006 schedule, but this weekend will be the first time the Orange plays on the familiar turf of the SU Soccer Stadium. After a demanding beginning to the season that saw the Orange face four teams currently ranked in the NSCAA Top 25, make trips to Virginia, North Carolina, and Illinois, and most recently play three games in five days, Syracuse fans will be able to watch their team in a pair of home contests.
The Orange host BIG EAST foe St. John's Friday at 7:00 p.m. and in-state rival Colgate Sunday at 12:30 p.m. The games also represent the Orange continuing the two longest and most successful series' in Syracuse women's soccer history. Syracuse has faced St. John's and Colgate 10 times each. The Orange is 7-2-1 against the Red Storm and 8-1-1 against the Raiders. The Orange has not faced a team or beaten a team more than these two opponents.
The Red Storm is 4-0-1 on the season, with all of its victories being shutouts. . Senior forward Natasha Lee leads the Red Storm with two goals and freshman forward Kelly McConnell has a team-best three assists. Junior goalie Jamie Beran is second in the BIG EAST in goals against average (0.21), third in save percentage (,929) and is tied for the league lead with three shutouts. The Red Storm was 6-10-3 last season, 2-7-2 in BIG EAST play, and finished seventh in the American Division. In 2005, the Orange blanked the Red Storm, 2-0.
The Raiders opened the season on a four-game winning streak before losing to #25 WIlliam & Mary in the championship game of the VCU/Ewing Sports Invitational. Junior Franny Iacuzzi, sophomore Josie Johnson and freshman Jillian Arnault have each scored two goals for the Raiders. At least one of the trio has scored in all of Colgate’s wins. Freshman Jessica Bitsack leads the Raiders with three assists. Juniors Brittany Pearsall and Carly Sousa have split time in goal for Colgate. Pearsall has started two games, recording shutouts in both. In Sousa’s three starts, she has made 13 saves and allowed six goals. Last year, the Orange and Raiders played to a scoreless double overtime tie.
Live stats will be available for both games on suathletics.com and Sunday's game against Colgate can be seen live on Orange All Access.
