SU Hosts Villanova In BIG EAST Semifinal

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	Roster	Schedule	Season Stats	Game Notes
	Roster	Schedule	Season Stats	Game Notes

The fifth ranked Syracuse field hockey team (16-3) begins postseason play this weekend as the Orange host Villanova in the BIG EAST Semifinals at 3:00 at J.S. Coyne Stadium.

SU landed a No. 2 seed in the tournament after a 5-1 record in conference play. Regular season champion and No. 1 seed Connecticut will play No. 4 seed Louisville in the early game at 12:30 p.m. The winners of Friday's semifinal games will advance to the championship game on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

SU In The BIG EAST Tournament
SU makes its 21st appearance at the BIG EAST Championship, carrying a 14-15 (.483) record, including five crowns in 1993, 1995, 2001, 2008 and 2010. SU also has four second-place finishes in 1992, 1994, 1999 and 2009.

Last season, the Orange defeated Rutgers 4-1 in a semifinal game in Storrs, Conn. before downing host Connecticut, 1-0, on a goal from Lindsey Conrad in the fifth minute of play. Under head coach Ange Bradley, the Orange is 5-2 in tournament play with two conference titles.

Back To The Playoffs
Syracuse clinched a spot in the 2011 BIG EAST Championship Tournament on October 14th with its win against Georgetown, marking the fifth straight season that the Orange has made an appearance in the conference tournament.

This weekend will be the sixth time that Syracuse has hosted the BIG EAST Field Hockey Championship, and the first time since 2007. SU has won two of the past three conference tournaments, including the 2010 Championship with a 1-0 win against UConn.

Nearing Tournament Time
Following this weekend's BIG EAST Tournament, the Orange will continue its quest for a national championship in the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament next weekend.

The NCAA Selection Show will air on Tuesday, November, 8 at 8:00 p.m. to announce the 16-team field. The Orange are currently ranked seventh in the NCAA Division I RPI rankings.

Syracuse has advanced to the NCAA Tournament in each of the past three seasons, and reached the Final Four in 2008. SU also made the national tournament in 2001, 1995 and 1993.

After going 1-1 last season in University Park, Pa., the Orange is 6-6 (.500) all-time in national tournament play.

Bradley Coaches In 300th Game
Fifth-year head coach Ange Bradley coached in her 300th career game against Villanova last weekend. Bradley has a career record of 219-82 (.728) in her 15 seasons as a head coach.

Entering 2011, she had the fifth highest winning percentage among active Division I head coaches and the 12th most victories. She also has the ninth highest winning percentage all-time among Division I coaches.

Bradley coached in her 100th game at Syracuse earlier this season against Georgetown. In her five seasons leading the Orange, Bradley is 84-21 (.800), and has three regular season BIG EAST championships, two tournament championships and once NCAA Final Four appearance.

Series Notes With Villanova
Friday will be the 24th meeting between the Orange and the Wildcats, with SU holding a 17-6 advantage. The two teams first met in 1990.

Last week, the Orange picked up its fifth BIG EAST win at Villanova, 3-2. Late in the second half, with the game tied at two, Heather Susek netted her first of two goals on the weekend to give SU the lead for good.

Syracuse has face the Wildcats three times in the BIG EAST Tournament, with Villanova holding a 2-1 postseason edge. The teams last met in the postseason in 2005, a 4-1 win for the Wildcats

Scouting The Wildcats
The Wildcats are 7-10 this season and are ranked third in the BIG EAST with a league record of 3-3. Jessica Swoboda leads the team in points (21), goals (seven) and assists (seven).

Goalkeeper Megan Goelz has played in every game this season and owns a 3.35 goals-against-average and .718 save percentage. Villanova has been outscored by their opponents 45-29 this season.

Syracuse University Athletics

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