Syracuse University
Rutgers University
Orange Secures Outright BIG EAST Championship on Senior Day
10/31/2009 3:43:12 PM | Field Hockey
Box Score
SYRACUSE – The fifth-ranked Syracuse University field hockey team secured its sixth BIG EAST Regular Season Championship with its 6-1 victory versus Rutgers this afternoon at J.S. Coyne Stadium. The 2009 Orange, 16-2 overall and 6-0 in the league, is only the second SU squad to finish the BIG EAST schedule undefeated. Syracuse has also won back-to-back championships for the first time since it won three consecutive in 1993, '94 and '95.
“I am extremely proud of what this team has accomplished,” head coach Ange Bradley said. “To win back-to-back BIG EAST Regular Season Championships is a testament to their hard work and dedication.”
Junior forward Kristin Girouard scored twice for the Orange. Senior forward Tracy Deitrick, junior forward Lindsey Conrad and junior back Maggie Befort all had one goal and one assist for Syracuse. Freshman back Amy Kee added a goal and sophomore forward Heather Susek added an assist.
Befort opened the scoring at 10:18, tipping home a Susek shot off an Orange corner. Rutgers tied the game four minutes later, but would not find the back of the cage the rest of the day.
Girouard's first goal of the day put Syracuse ahead for good at 23:23. Deitrick scored two minutes later off a great pass from Conrad to give SU a 3-1 advantage. Girouard's second goal of the afternoon made the margin 4-1 right before halftime. Deitrick provided the assist.
Kee converted a straight on Syracuse corner off a push from Befort and a stop from Loncarica to give SU a 5-1 lead at 42:25. Conrad put the finishing touches on the game, scoring her team-best 15th of the year at 46:09 for the final margin of 6-1.
Freshman goalkeeper Leann Stiver made one save in the cage for SU. The Orange outshot Rutgers, 19-5, and held a 5-2 advantage in penalty corners.
Syracuse is the No. 1 seed in the BIG EAST Championship in Providence, R.I. on Nov. 7-8. The Orange will face fourth-seeded Providence, which finished BIG EAST play with a 3-3 mark on Saturday, November 78 at 11 a.m.
