Syracuse University
RV Villanova University
Regular Season Road Finale
10/21/2009 4:04:55 PM | Field Hockey
Game Notes
VILLANOVA, Pa. – No. 5 Syracuse (14-1, 4-0) takes RV Villanova (8-6, 2-2) and No. 10 Boston College (11-4, 1-3) in a pair of matches on Fri., Oct. 23 and Sun., Oct. 25. With a victory on Friday, SU will clinch the BIG EAST Regular Season Championship and the top seed in the BIG EAST Tournament to be played on November 7 and 8 in Providence, R.I.
The Orange enters the weekend with winning records in both all-time series against the Wildcats and the Eagles. SU extended its record to 16-7 over Villanova last season with a dominant 5-0 victory in Syracuse. A 3-1 victory at home in 2008 propelled the Orange to a 14-7 record against BC.
Competition on the road against both schools has been more balanced. SU leads the series against Villanova, 5-4, when playing in Philadelphia. In Boston, the series between BC and SU is knotted at 4-4.
Last weekend, Syracuse pushed its win streak to 11, improving to 14-1 overall and 4-0 in BIG EAST play after defeating No. 7 Connecticut, 3-2, in double overtime on Oct. 17. Junior forward Lindsey Conrad has recorded a team-best 33 points off a team-high 13 goals and seven assists. Conrad's point and goal total both rank second in the BIG EAST. Sophomore midfielder Martina Loncarica leads the team in assists with 10, which is ranked for 10th in the BIG EAST. Freshman goalkeeper Leann Stiver has a goal-against-average of 0.97 and a saves percentage of .778 in the cage for the Orange. Both rank first in the BIG EAST. Junior back Maggie Befort, who started the season ranked 10th on the career points list, now is tied for first (94 points). Befort is also second on the all-time assists list with 40.
Villanova enters the game following a weekend which saw the Wildcats split a pair of games against Georgetown and Drexel. They defeated the Hoyas, 5-0, on Oct. 16, before losing at No. 12 Drexel, 5-2, on Oct. 18. Junior Dana Ramsden was named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll after she recorded two goals against GU and a goal and an assist at Drexel to lead the Wildcats. Junior Meredith Sabatini has recorded a team-best 30 points off a time-high 13 goals and four assists, and junior Lauren Wuzzardo has dished out a team-best 10 assists. Sophomore goalkeeper Megan Goelz has registered a 2.01 goals-against-average and a .737 save percentage in the cage.
Boston College (11-4, 1-3) couldn't fight through the elements on a snowy afternoon last weekend as it lost a non-conference game to the University of New Hampshire, 3-2, at Memorial Field. Senior forward Chelsey Feole has tallied a team-best 45 points off a team-high 17 goals and a team-best 11 assists. Senior goaltender Kristine Stigas has posted an 2.06 goals-against average and a .667 save percentage.
