Orange Seeded Fourth: Travels to Penn State on Saturday
11/9/2010 9:09:19 PM | Field Hockey
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SYRACUSE – The fourth-ranked Syracuse University field hockey team (15-4) will make its sixth all-time and third consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament when it travels to University Park, Pa. to face Penn State (14-5) in the first round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament on Saturday, November 13 at 11:30 a.m. at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex. The Orange secured a spot after defeating Connecticut, 1-0, to win the 2010 BIG EAST Championship last weekend.
Ohio State (16-4) and Albany (16-5) meet in the other first round game at 2 p.m. The winner of those two contests will square off on Sunday at 2 p.m. for the opportunity to advance to the Final Four.
Syracuse advanced to the quarterfinals of last season's NCAA tournament and the National Semifinal game in 2008. After going 1-1 in last season's championship, SU is 5-5 (.500) all-time in NCAA Tournament play. Syracuse has made the NCAA Tournament in 2009, 2008, 2001, 1995 and 1993.
The fourth-seeded Orange won its fifth BIG EAST Championship tournament title Nov. 7. The Orange defeated No. 4 seed Rutgers 4-1 on Nov. 6 in the semifinals of the BIG EAST Championship. Syracuse shutout No. 3 seed Connecticut 1-0 in the championship final on Nov. 7. SU also clinched the 2010 BIG EAST Regular Season Championship, going 6-0 in league play. This marks the third consecutive regular season- title for the Orange.
Lead by three-time BIG EAST Coach of the Year Ange Bradley, Syracuse has won its last eight outings and 10 of its last 11, including two victories against No. 4 Connecticut and wins versus No. 10 Louisville, No. 14 Boston College, No. 18 Albany and No. 20 Stanford. All-American Martina Loncarica leads the Orange with 27 points off a team-high 10 goals and second-best seven assists. She is first in the BIG EAST Conference with seven game-winning goals. Freshman midfielder Leonie Geyer has registered 22 points off five goals and a team-high 12 assists. Junior forward Heather Susek has scored nine goals and tallied three assists for 21 points.
Goalkeeper Leann Stiver has a 12-4 record in cage. She recorded a 1.08 goals-against-average, a .780 saves percentage and 64 saves while registering four shutouts. She is eighth in the nation in both GAA and saves percentage. Syracuse has outscored its opponents 55-20 on the season. The Orange has outshot its counterparts 378-168 and hold a 172-103 advantage in penalty corners.
Penn State has captured eight of their last 10 contests, including victories over fellow NCAA Tournament participants Princeton and Michigan State. Sophomore forward Kelsey Amy leads the team and ranks third in the conference with 19 goals. Junior midfielder Jessica Longstreth stands second on the team with 35 points and is one of only five players in the country with at least 10 goals and 15 assists. Redshirt sophomore Hannah Allison has scored seven goals, including two game-winners
Sophomore goalkeeper Ayla Halus ranks third in the country with a .815 save percentage while posting six shutouts. Penn State has outscored its opponents 53-23 on the season. The Nittany Lions have outshot its counterparts 166-133 and holds a 161-103 advantage in penalty corners.
