BIG EAST Regular Season Champions

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PISCATAWAY, N.Y. – The third-ranked Syracuse University field hockey team earned a share of the BIG EAST Regular-Season Championship with its 7-1 win at Rutgers today in SU’s regular-season finale. Sophomore forward Lindsey Conrad registered her second and Syracuse’s 10th hat-trick of the season and freshman midfielder Martina Loncarica dished out a school-record tying three assists for the fourth time this season. Syracuse ends the regular season with a program-best 18-1 overall mark. The 18 victories are program best. Orange finished with a 5-1 mark in the BIG EAST.

Senior midfielder Shannon Taylor registered two goals and one assist. Sophomore back Maggie Befort and freshman back Anne-Sophie Van der Post both tallied two assists, while sophomore forward Kahli Vojkovic and freshman forward Nicole Nelson both notched one goal to round out the SU scoring.

“I am really happy with our team. Being BIG EAST Regular Season Champions is a great accomplishment,” head coach Ange Bradley said. “The program record for wins and winning percentage just makes it that much sweeter. We are looking forward to next weekend and the BIG EAST Championship.”

Syracuse got on the scoreboard less than three minutes into the contest when Conrad drilled a shot from the left side, bouncing the ball into the far side of the cage.

Three minutes later the Orange stretched its advantage to 2-0 scoring off a penalty corner and its second shot of the game. Taylor scored her 27th goal of the year from 10 yards out. A deflection of the stick of Vojkovic resulted in SU pulling ahead 3-0 in the 12th minute of play.

Conrad tallied her second score when Taylor stole the ball from an RU defender and got ahead of the defense. She was able to pass ahead to Conrad who played RU goalkeeper Lindsey Caliendo one-on-one, drawing her out of the box. Conrad got off a point-blank shot for a 4-0 SU lead.

RU scored its lone goal in the 31st minute. After sending the ball in for the penalty corner, Melissa Bowman found the back of the cage with a rebound shot.

Taylor notched her 28th goal of the season off a penalty corner to give Syracuse a 5-1 lead. Befort and Loncarica provided the push the stop.

Nelson made the score 6-1 with her fifth goal the year. The freshman took a feed by Loncarica from the corner before finding the back of the cage.

Conrad’s third goal of the day completed the scoring in the 67th minute. Van der Post pushed the ball just inside the circle for Conrad who found the left side of the cage.

SU posted an 11-6 advantage in penalty corers and a 19-8 shot advantage. Senior goalkeeper Heather Hess made three saves in the victory.

The Orange waits to hear from the BIG EAST to find out its seed for next weekend’s BIG EAST Championship at the George J. Sherman Family-Sports Complex on the campus of the University of Connecticut. The champion receives the league’s automatic bid to the 2008 NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship.

BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP

SEMIFINALS - GEORGE J. SHERMAN FAMILY-SPORTS COMPLEX

University of Connecticut, Storrs, Conn.

Saturday, November 8

No. 1 seed vs. No. 4 seed – 11 a.m.

No. 2 seed vs. No. 3 seed – 1:30 p.m.

FINALS - GEORGE J. SHERMAN FAMILY-SPORTS COMPLEX

University of Connecticut, Storrs, Conn.

Sunday, November 9

Semifinal winners – 1 p.m.