SU Field Hockey Blanks Columbia, 3-0

Sunday, October 9

J.S. Coyne Stadium

1 p.m.

Syracuse University

rv Columbia University

10/9/2011 4:06:24 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score | Season Stats | Photo Gallery

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- In her first collegiate start, freshman goalkeeper Sophia Openshaw backstopped the Syracuse field hockey team (11-2) to a 3-0 shutout win against Columbia (4-6) on Sunday afternoon at J.S. Coyne Stadium. The Orange received goals from three different scorers, including Stephanie Hussey's first career goal, en route to its eighth straight victory.

"We got a shutout, which I'm very proud of," head coach Ange Bradley said. "I thought our back four played extremely well and controlled the pace of play."

Sunday's win extends SU's home winning streak to 24 straight games, dating back to the start of the 2008 season. SU set the tone from the beginning against the Lions, outshooting Columbia 40-3, the team's largest total of the season. Syracuse also drew 16 penalty corners during the contest to the Lions' two.

The Orange struck less than one minute into the game as junior attack Kelsey Millman notched her ninth goal of the season after taking a pass from Heather Susek and burying a shot into the bottom left corner. The goal was SU's quickest to start a game this season.

Susek was then on the receiving end of Syracuse's second goal during the 12th minute of the first half when she took a pass from Martina Loncarica for a shot that beat Columbia goalkeeper Christie O'Hara (13 saves).

When 10 penalty corners awarded to the Orange during the second half, Hussey converted with 19:27 remaining in regulation. After pushing the ball into play, Liz McInerney blasted a ball just to the left of the cage, where Hussey stationed herself for a redirect past O'Hara for the score.

SU will resume the BIG EAST portion of its schedule on Friday when the Orange host Georgetown at 6:00 p.m. from J.S. Coyne Stadium.