NCAA Championship First Round: Syracuse vs. Massachusetts

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SYRACUSE - The No. 3 Syracuse University field hockey team (20-1) will make its fourth appearance all-time in the NCAA Tournament when it faces No. 17 Massachusetts (17-4) in the first round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament on Saturday, November 15 at 11:30 a.m. at J.S. Coyne Stadium. The Orange secured a spot after defeating Connecticut, 1-0, to win the 2008 BIG EAST Championship last weekend. The winner of the Orange-Minutewomen game will play the winner of Princeton-Penn State (Saturday, November 15 at 2 p.m.) on Sunday, November 16 at 2 p.m. The Orange returns to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in seven years, after recording a program-best 20 wins. SU earned a share of the BIG EAST Regular-Season Championship with its 5-1 conference record.

The Orange is 2-3 (.400) all-time in NCAA Championship play. SU made the NCAA Tournament in 2001, 1995 and 1993. Syracuse went 1-1 in its last appearance, defeating California, 2-1, in the first round, before losing to Maryland, 6-0, in the second round. The Orange lost at Princeton, 3-0, in the first round in 1995. SU advanced to the second round in 1993, defeating Penn, 3-0, in the first round, before losing at Penn State, 4-0.

Syracuse and UMASS will meet for the 19th time with SU boasting a 12-5-1 advantage. The Orange has won the last 10 contests dating back to 1999 and has outscored UMass 22-7 in those games. SU is 6-1 all-time against the Minutewomen in Syracuse. SU and Massachusetts met earlier this season, when the Orange defeated the Minutewomen 5-4 on September 28 at Amherst. The four goals by UMass are the most the Orange has allowed the year.

UMass (17-4) defeated Kent State, 1-0, on November 11 in a NCAA play-in game to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament. It is UMass’ second consecutive trip to the NCAAs and 21st in program history. UMass won the Atlantic-10 Conference Tournament and regular-season titles. Jackie Tait was named the championship’s Most Outstanding Player. She was joined on the All-Championship Team by Jaime Bourazeris, Katie Kelly, Cher King and Makaela Potts. Katelyn Orlando was named the A10 Offensive Player of the Year. Alesha Widdall was tabbed the Rookie of the Year and Justine Sowry earned her second consecutive Coach of the Year honor. Joining Orlando on the A10 First Team were Potts, Mary Shea and goalkeeper Alesha Widdall. King and Erin Parker were named to the A10 Second Team. Orlando has recorded a team-best 29 goals and 14 points. Parker has dished out a team-high eight assists. Widdall has seen the majority of action in the cage, registering a 0.97 goals-against-average and a .798 saves percentage. Ranked No. 17 in the STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll, the Minutewomen have won 10 of their last 11 games since losing to Syracuse.

Syracuse head coach Ange Bradley is very familiar with the Minutewomen. Bradley is 10-2 all-time against UMass. Her two losses came in 2001 during her first season at Richmond. While at Richmond, Bradley recorded a 42-0 record in the Atlantic 10, won five consecutive conference tournament championships and earned five NCAA Tournament invitations. Since Bradley’s departure from Richmond in 2007, Massachusetts has won the last two Atlantic 10 championships.

Syracuse University Athletics

NCAA Championship First Round: Syracuse vs. Massachusetts

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