Syracuse Picked to Win 2009 BIG EAST Field Hockey Crown
8/13/2009 3:45:37 PM | Field Hockey
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The 2008 BIG EAST regular-season and tournament field hockey champions Syracuse Orange were selected by the conference coaches to win the regular-season title in 2009. In addition, sophomore Martina Loncarica and junior Lindsey Conrad were both voted unanimously to the All-BIG EAST Preseason Team. Junior Maggie Befort was also named to the All-BIG EAST Preseason team.
Syracuse received four first-place votes and 34 points overall, narrowly beating out fellow regular season champion Connecticut which received three first-place votes and tallied 33 points. The one-point difference marks the closest BIG EAST field hockey preseason poll since 2004. During the voting process, coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players or teams.
Last season, Syracuse advanced to the school's first NCAA Final Four after winning the BIG EAST Championship title. The Orange defeated Providence 3-1 in the league semifinals before defeating host Connecticut 1-0 to take the BIG EAST Championship crown. At the conclusion of the 2008 regular season, Syracuse, Connecticut and Louisville finished in a three-way tie to share the title. All three regular-season champions earned NCAA bids with Syracuse earning the automatic bid and Connecticut and Louisville gaining at-large berths. Both Connecticut and Louisville lost in the first round, while Syracuse defeated Massachusetts (3-2) and Princeton (3-2, OT) to advance to the Final Four. The Orange lost to Wake Forest 3-2 in overtime to finish the season 22-2.
Syracuse has five of its top six scorers from 2008 returning, including Loncarica and Conrad who were both voted unanimously to the All-BIG EAST Preseason Team. Loncarica racked up 65 points last season on 17 goals and a league-leading 31 assists, while Conrad combined for 51 points from 21 goals and nine assists. SU's defense is bolstered by All-BIG EAST Preseason team member Befort, whose versatility provided 25 assists in 2008, second in league standings behind teammate Loncarica. Syracuse finished the 2008 campaign with a final No. 3 national ranking in the STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll.
The SU field hockey team opens the season on Friday, August 28 at Northeastern at 2 p.m.
