Syracuse University
Northwestern University
Orange Travels to Buckeye State for Games Against Ohio State & Kent State
9/2/2010 11:10:41 AM | Field Hockey
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COLUMBUS, OHIO - The eighth-ranked Syracuse University field hockey team begins a six-game road trip in Columbus, Ohio this weekend. The Orange will take on No. 14 Ohio State (1-0) on Friday, September 3 at 3 p.m. and rv Kent State (1-1) on Saturday, September 4 at 2 p.m. Both contests will be played at the new 500-seat Buckeye Varsity Field.
Syracuse is 19-16-2 (did not play a road game in 1972) all-time in its first road contest of a campaign. The Orange has won its last three road openers. SU is also 16-11 all-time in is first neutral game of the year. Syracuse has won its last four neutral game openers.
The Orange is looking to start the season 4-0 for the fourth consecutive year.
Series Notes
The Orange holds a 3-1 advantage in the all-time series against the Buckeyes, including a 3-2 overtime victory last season in Syracuse.
Three of the four games have been decided in overtime.
SU won the only meeting in Columbus, 2-1.
Syracuse was down but not out, coming from behind twice to defeat the No. 18 Ohio State Buckeyes, 3-2, in overtime on Sept. 4, 2009 at J.S. Coyne Stadium. The Orange never led in regulation and was outshot 14-11 in 70 minutes of regulation, but SU was able to post two game-tying goals to take the contest into overtime. Heather Susek scored the game-winning goal at 73:19. Lindsey Conrad and Shelby Schraden scored SU's other two goals.
SU also holds a 3-1 advantage in the all-time series against the Golden Flashes.
Scouting the Orange
Syracuse's two-game winning streak to start the 2010 season marks the fourth consecutive 2-0 start for the Orange.
Freshman midfielder 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 Friday. She is the 16th player to accomplish the feat. Current junor All-American Martina Loncaria's name appears three times and Maggie Fitzpatrick (1985-88) accomplished the feat twice.
Nine different players have scored for the Orange in its first two games, with only senior All-American Lindsey Conrad scoring twice.
Lindsey Conrad is now tied for third all-time on SU's goals scored list with 40. Her 142 points rank second among active players.
Senior back Maggie Befort is seventh among active players with a school record 108 points. Martina Loncarica is tied for 11th with 91 points.
Conrad is also second among active players with 59 career goals. Befort is 14th with 31 and Loncaria is tied for 26th.
Loncarica is third among active players with 49 assists. Befort is fourth with 46 and Conrad is tied for 11th.
Sophomore goalkeeper Leann Stiver's goals-against-average of 1.27 ranks eighth in the nation among active goalkeepers.
Sophomore back Iona Holloway and freshman midfielder Leonie Geyer each tallied first career goals last weekend.
SU has recorded an assist on seven of its 10 goals (one goal came via penalty stroke).
Scouting the Buckeyes
No. 14 Ohio State (1-0) opened the 2010 season with a 2-1 overtime win at Ohio on August 31. The Buckeyes dominated both sides of the field, outshooting Ohio 15-2, while earning 19 penalty corners. Aisling Coyle led the team in shots (10) and shots on goal (7) while scoring the first goal and assisting on the second.
Head coach Anne Wilkinson, who is entering her 15th season at the helm of the Buckeyes, will lead a team comprised of 11 returning letterwinners, including eight starters, and welcomes 10 newcomers to the squad in 2010.
OSU finished 2009 with a13-7 record and second-place Big Ten finish.
College Roommates
Syracuse head coach Ange Bradley (Delaware '88) and Ohio State head coach Anne Wilkinson (Delaware '86) were teammates on the 1984 and 1985 Delaware squads.
The college roommates complied a 24-24-1 overall mark during their two years together. They were 10-2 in East Coast Conference play and won the 1985 ECC regular-season the conference championship.
Scouting the Golden Flashes
Kent State comes into the weekend 1-1. The Golden Flashes defeated William & Mary, 4-1, and lost to No. 12 James Madison, 4-0, to open the season.
Four different players scored for Kent State.
The Golden Flashes welcome back All-Mid-American Conference selections Rachel Miller, Debbie Bell and Katie George. The trio helps to boast a line-up that will feature 13 returnees, including eight starters.
Kent State was picked to repeat as MAC Champions after going 12-8 overall and 8-2 in the league last season.
Holloway named BIG EAST Defensive POW
Sophomore back Iona Holloway was named the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week. Holloway helped lead the eighth-ranked Orange to its fourth consecutive 2-0 start with victories against Northwestern and Northeastern last weekend.
The sophomore scored her first career goal in her first career start against the Wildcats, while helping anchor a defense that gave up just two shots. Her stellar play continued on Sunday, helping Syracuse limit Northeastern to just seven shots.
Geyer named to BIG EAST Honor Roll
Freshman midfielder Leonie Geyer was also named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll for her efforts in Syracuse's 6-1 against Northwestern on August 27 at J.S. Coyne Stadium.
Geyer recorded five points off one goal and a school-record tying three assists in her debut as the Orange crushed Northwestern, in the season opener for both. The Neuss, Germany native did not play in SU's 4-1 win against Northeastern on Sunday.
Last Weekend in Review
The Orange went 2-0 last weekend, defeating Northwestern, 6-1, and Northeastern, 4-1.
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.
Junior forward Heather Susek recorded one goal and two assists and senior forward Kristin Girouard registered one goal and one assist as the Orange defeated Northeastern, 4-1, on August 29 at J.S. Coyne Stadium. Senior forward Shelby Schraden and sophomore back Amy Kee scored SU's other two goals, while junior All-American Martina Loncarica and senior back Maggie Befort each added an assist in the victory.
