Syracuse University
No. 7 Michigan State University
Kee Leads SU to 2-1 Overtime Victory
9/13/2009 4:10:36 PM | Field Hockey
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Freshman back Amy Kee recorded one goal and one assist to lead No. 8 Syracuse to a 2-1 overtime victory against No. 7 Michigan State on Sunday afternoon at J.S. Coyne Stadium. Kee provided the assist on SU first tally in the 29th minute to tie the game, 1-1, before scoring the deciding goal three minutes into the extra session. The game marked the fourth-straight overtime contest for the Orange, which improved to 5-1 on the young season while the Spartans moved to 4-2.
Michigan State netted its first goal at the 21st minute mark off a scramble in front. Freshman goalkeeper Leann Stiver deflected a high penalty corner shot but Chantae Miller found the rebound mid-air, poking it into the cage to give the Spartans a 1-0 advantage.
The Orange offense took control toward the end of the first half, earning three consecutive penalty corners. After a Michigan State save and a shot just wide of the right post, Maggie Befort
converted SU's third penalty corner attempt in the 29th minute, tipping in a Key shot past MSU goalkeeper Elissa Unger, to tie the score, 1-1.
The two teams played closely through the second half, with a strong Syracuse defense holding off a Michigan State offense that held a 9-4 advantage in second-half shots. Each team had three penalty corner opportunities in the second stanza, with Kee making a game-changing defensive save on the goal line in the 53rd minute to preserve the tie. The teams remained deadlocked through the end of regulation, marking the first time SU has played four-straight overtime games since 2000.
Syracuse earned its 10th penalty corner of the game less than three minutes into the overtime session. Befort pushed the ball in to Loncarica who advanced toward the goal passing back-and-forth to Kee. The pair moved in five yards before Kee placed the game-winner in the upper right corner of the cage.
Stiver and graduate student Ashleigh McGowan split time in goal for the Orange, combining for 10 saves. McGowan played both the second half and overtime period in goal for SU, earning her second victory of the season. Unger had a pair of first-half saves in goal for MSU.
Syracuse held a 10-7 advantage in penalty corners while Michigan State outshot the Orange, 18-11, but was held without a shot in overtime.
The Orange opens its BIG EAST schedule on Friday, September 18 when it visits Louisville at 4 p.m.
