Syracuse University
USF
Romagnuolo's Late Goal Gives SU 3-2 Win on Senior Day
10/25/2009 3:42:43 PM | Women's Soccer
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Freshman Tina Romagnuolo scored her second goal of the game with less than nine minutes remaining to give Syracuse a 3-2 victory against USF at the SU Soccer Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 25.
The Orange ends the season with a 5-11-3 record, including a 2-8-1 mark in BIG EAST play, while the Bulls go to 11-6-2 overall, 5-4-2 in conference action.
Romagnuolo, who scored two goals in a game for the second time this season, led Syracuse in scoring in 2009 with 18 points, the fifth-highest total by an SU freshman in program history. She also scored a team-high nine goals, which tie her for sixth on Syracuse's single-season record list and for third on the all-time goals scored by a freshman leader list.
Syracuse started the scoring early. Sophomore Casey Ramirez took the ball down the right side of the field before serving the ball to Romagnuolo, who was on the far left side of the box. Romagnuolo put her shot past USF goalkeeper Mallori Lofton-Malachi to give the Orange a 1-0 advantage after 11:00 of play.
The remainder of the scoring took place in the second half. Syracuse added to its lead in the 52nd minute after a hand ball was called against USF in the box. SU was awarded a penalty kick, which was converted by senior Tessa MacDougall for her first goal of the season, giving the Orange a 2-0 lead. USF responded with a goal by Chelsea Klotz on an assist from Noelle Pineiro in the 64th minute to cut the SU lead in half. The Bulls then netted the equalizer just more than 12 minutes later when Angelique Waller scored on a header off a corner kick by Pineiro.
The game remained tied until the 81st minute. Romagnuolo took the ball off a throw in, made a move around a USF defender and put her shot in the back of the net for her third game-winning goal of the season.
“It was a huge day for us,” said Syracuse head coach Phil Wheddon. “After USF scored its second goal, they put pressure on us and put our defense on its heels. We really just needed to stay composed.”
USF outshot the Orange, 13-10, and had four corners to one for SU. Senior goalkeeper Eliza Bennett-Hattan made six saves, increasing her season total to 88. That total ranks sixth on Syracuse's single-season leader list. Bennett-Hattan ended her career as the Orange's career leader in saves (331) and shutouts (20). Lofton-Malachi finished with three saves for USF.
Sunday's contest was the final game for Syracuse's senior class of Bennett-Hattan, MacDougall, Chelsea Berry and Sami Hirsh. The group was honored during a halftime ceremony for its dedication and contributions to the program.
“We came together this weekend for the seniors,” Wheddon said. “They will be a tremendous loss for us. They deserve to be in the BIG EAST Tournament, but we were able to send them out with a win.”
