Orange Crush: Field Hockey Returns
8/16/2010 10:49:29 AM | Field Hockey
SYRACUSE – The back-to-back BIG EAST Regular Season champion Syracuse Orange field hockey team opened up the 2010 season last week with a series of skill tests, practices and strength and conditioning work out.
Under the guidance of fourth-year head coach and 2009 BIG EAST Coach of the Year Ange Bradley, the Orange will be in pursuit of its third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. Syracuse has compiled a 40-6 (.870) record the past two seasons.
The Orange dominated the BIG EAST preseason awards. Two-time All-American Lindsey Conrad was named the BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and the Orange placed five on the preseason all-conference team, the most of any school. In addition to being tabbed the preseason offensive player of the year, Conrad was a unanimous choice to the All-BIG EAST Preseason Team. She was joined on the 13-person squad by senior back Maggie Befort, sophomore back Amy Kee, junior midfielder Martina Loncarica and sophomore goalkeeper Leann Stiver. Like Conrad, Befort and
Loncarica were unanimous selections.
In addition to the All-BIG EAST Preseason Team, the conference also released the results of the BIG EAST Preseason Poll Friday. Syracuse (32 points) was picked to finish second, one point behind league favorite Connecticut (33 points). The Huskies received four of the seven first-place votes. The Orange garnered two.
Syracuse, the defending BIG EAST regular-season champion, will open the 2010 season at home on Friday, Aug. 27 against Northwestern. Start time is 2 p.m. at Coyne Stadium.
