Syracuse University
RV Providence College
Regular-Season Champion on a Quest for Second Consecutive Tournament Title
11/5/2009 8:51:56 AM | Field Hockey
Game Notes | Tournament Central
PROVIDENCE –The fifth-ranked Syracuse Orange field hockey team (16-2, 6-0) travels to Providence, R.I. for the BIG EAST Championship. Providence College will host the event with the semifinal taking place on Saturday, November 7, and the championship game on Sunday, November 8.
SU makes its 19th appearance at the BIG EAST Championship, carrying an 11-14 (.440) record including four crowns (1993, 1995, 2001, 2008). SU also has three second-place finishes; 1992, 1994 and 1999. Syracuse defeated Connecticut, 1-0, in last year's tournament.
Syracuse went 1-0 last week, clinching the regular season BIG EAST title outright after defeating Rutgers 6-1 on Oct. 31. The Orange finished conference play with a 6-0 mark. Junior forward Lindsey Conrad has recorded a team-best 38 points off a team-high 15 goals and eight assists. Her goals are tied for third in the BIG EAST and her points are tied for fourth. Sophomore midfielder Martina Loncarica leads the team in assists with 13, which is ranked fifth in the BIG EAST. Freshman goalkeeper Leann Stiver has a goal-against-average of 0.94 and a saves percentage of .755 in the cage for the Orange. Her GAA ranks first in the BIG EAST and her saves percentage is second.
Syracuse and Providence have met 28 times, making the Friars SU's third-most familiar foe. The Orange leads the all-time series, 18-6-4 and has won the last three meetings. SU defeated PC, 2-1, earlier this season in Syracuse. The Orange is 7-2-2 all-time against the Friars in Providence.
The Friars (10-9, 3-3) have won its last five contests, outscoring its opponents, 21-2, during that span. Nellie Poulin has recorded a team-best 30 points off a team-high 14 goals. Adrienne Marois has registered a team-best 10 assists. In net the Friars are led by Rachel Chamberlain, who has compiled a 9-8 record with a 1.91 goals against average.
Syracuse's second-most familiar foe, Connecticut leads the series at 25-7-1. The Orange has won the last two match-ups, including a 3-2 double-overtime win this season and a 1-0 victory in the 2008 BIG EAST Championship game. The Orange is 2-3 all-time against the Huskies on a neutral field.
Since losing to the Orange on October 17, the Huskies (17-2, 5-1) have won their last three games. Loren Sherer leads the BIG EAST in most offensive categories, including shots (121), points (73), goals (28), assists (17) and game-winning goals (7). She has earned a league record six BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week awards. In net, the Huskies are led by Andrea Mainiero. The UConn graduate student ranks first in the BIG EAST in shutouts (6) and save percentage (.800) and second in goal-against-average (1.06).
The game marks the Orange's eighth meeting with Louisville, with Syracuse holding the 4-3 edge. The Orange is 1-0 all-time against the Cardinals on a neutral site. SU defeated UofL, 3-2, earlier this season in Louisville.
The Cardinals (12-7, 3-3) are riding a four-game winning streak into the BIG EAST Championship. Hayley Turner has recorded a team-best 41 points off a team-high 15 goals. Nicole Youman has dished out a team-best 14 assists. Heather Bustanoby has a goal-against-average of 1.54 and a saves percentage of .738 in the cage for the Cardinals.
