SU Concludes Homestand with Huskies
8/29/2010 11:05:53 AM | Field Hockey
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SYRACUSE - The eighth-ranked Syracuse concludes its opening weekend homestand against Northeastern today at J.S. Coyne Stadium. The Orange opened the 2010 campaign with an impressive, 6-1, victory versus Northwestern on Friday, August 27. It was the first time SU opened a season at home since 2002. In fact the Orange has won eight consecutive home openers dating back to 1996.
SU is now 4-0 in season openers under the direction of fourth-year head coach Ange Bradley.
Last Time Out
Freshman Leonie Geyer recorded five points off one goal and a school-record tying three assists in her debut as the Orange crushed Northwestern, 6-1, in the season opener for both teams on August 27 at J.S. Coyne Stadium. BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Lindsey Conrad was the other star for SU, adding two goals. The Orange controlled play throughout the contest, outshooting the Wildcats, 33-2, while posting nine penalty corners to NU's two.
Series Notes
The Huskies hold a 10-4 edge in the all-time series which dates back to 1981. Syracuse however, has won three of the last four meetings, including last season's 2-1 victory in Boston to open the season.
Current senior forward Shelby Schraden's late goal helped the Orange to a 2-1 victory at Northeastern in the season opener for both squads on August 28, 2009 at Sweeney Field. The Huskies led 1-0 at halftime thanks to a goal from Meg Sweeny, but could not hold the lead in the second half as current senior forward Lindsey Conrad tied the game and Schraden won it with just more than three minutes remaining.
Scouting the Huskies
Northeastern was picked to finish fifth in the 2010 Colonial Athletic Association preseason poll, according to a vote by the league's head coaches.
The Huskies went 9-9 last year and finished 3-4 in the CAA, placing sixth in the conference. It was a two-win improvement over the previous season's conference record.
Cheryl Murtagh will enter her 23rd season as head coach at Northeastern, and will do so with a majority of last year's roster still intact. Fifteen letterwinners return, including 2009 CAA Rookie of the Year Crystal Poland and starting goaltender Lizzie Priest.
