Second-ranked Syracuse Shatters Records as it Improves to 11-0

Wednesday, October 1

Albany, N.Y.

4 p.m.

Syracuse University

UAlbany

Senior midfielder Shannon Taylor recorded four points off two goals, giving her 36 on the season, fourth-best in school history.

Second-ranked Syracuse Shatters Records as it Improves to 11-0

10/1/2008 7:15:10 PM | Field Hockey

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ALBANY, N.Y. – The second-ranked Syracuse Orange field hockey team achieved several historical milestones in its 3-1 win against Albany at Alumni Turf Field on Wednesday afternoon. Its three goals put its season total at 60, eclipsing the previous single-season standard of 58 set during the 1990 season. SU remained the nation’s lone undefeated team at 11-0, while Albany is now 5-7.

Senior midfielder Shannon Taylor (Midlothian, Va.) recorded four points off two goals, giving her 36 on the season, fourth-best in school history. Freshman midfielder Martina Loncarica (Buenos Aires, Argentina) registered two assists, giving her a school-record tying (Maggie Fitzpatrick, 1988) 16. She also has 34 points on the young season, eighth on SU’s single-season chart. Sophomore back Maggie Befort (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) also tallied two assists, giving her 13 on the season, the most ever by a sophomore. Her 24 career assists are also tied for fifth (Meg Ryan, 2003-06) in school history.

“It was really exciting to get the victory and to break the Syracuse scoring record,” head coach Ange Bradley said. “Now that we have accomplished that goal we can focus on getting better.”

The Great Danes started the scoring in the eighth minute, as Michelle Simpson dribbled into the circle from the left and slipped an unassisted shot past senior goalkeeper Heather Hess (Lititz, Pa.). The Orange tied the game at 14:23 as Taylor recorded her first tally, with assists going to Loncarica and Befort on the penalty corner.

Syracuse added another goal before halftime, as freshman forward Nicole Nelson (Telford, Pa.) gathered a rebound in front of the cage and pushed the ball past UAlbany goalkeeper Ashley Ross into the bottom right corner of the cage.

Taylor added the insurance goal on another Syracuse penalty corner in the 53rd minute to set the final score. Loncarica and Befort were both credited with an assist on the play.

Syracuse outshot UAlbany, 18-9, and held a 14-7 advantage in penalty corners. Hess finished with four saves, while Ross stopped nine shots in the cage for the Great Danes.

The Orange returns home this weekend, hosting Yale on Sunday at 1 p.m. Fans who cannot get to J.S. Coyne Stadium can watch live on Orange All Access. Live stats will also be available on SUAthletics.com.