Orange Tops Huskies For BIG EAST Regular Season Title, 3-2

Saturday, October 27

J.S. Coyne Stadium

1 p.m.

Syracuse University

(16-1, 6-0)

Connecticut

(16-2, 5-1)

Connecticut

Syracuse

Syracuse claimed its third BIG EAST regular season crown in the last four years.

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

Orange Tops Huskies For BIG EAST Regular Season Title, 3-2

10/27/2012 4:09:00 PM | Field Hockey

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. - No. 3 Syracuse field hockey (16-1, 6-0 BIG EAST) captured its third BIG EAST regular season title in the last four years, defeating No. 4 Connecticut (16-2, 5-1 BIG EAST), 3-2, in the regular season finale on Saturday at J.S. Coyne Stadium.

The victory gives the Orange the top seed in next week's BIG EAST Championship. Syracuse will face No. 4 seed Providence in the first semifinal on Friday at 5 p.m. at Louisville's Trager Stadium. UConn receives the second seed and will play No. 3 seed Louisville on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

"It feels great going out and getting the win for our seniors," head coach Ange Bradley said. "Going out of the BIG EAST Conference, it's awesome to have Syracuse in there. Now we have to get to the tournament and to NCAAs."

It was fitting on Senior Day at Coyne Stadium that two of the Orange's goals came from those honored in a ceremony prior to the game. Graduate student Liz McInerney scored the game's first goal and senior captain Kelsey Millman recorded the second, putting the Orange ahead for good.

Freshman Gillian Pinder scored the Orange's third goal with 7:53 remaining, giving the home team a 3-1 lead, and that proved to be the difference as the Huskies scored with 4:48 remaining to make it a one-goal game but could not get the equalizer.

The Orange's 16-1 regular season record ties the program record for fewest losses is the second-best winning percentage (.941). In 2008, the Orange went 18-1 in the regular season before finishing 22-2 overall after making the Final Four.

Syracuse got on the board first in the 29^th minute when McInerney, who had earlier put a shot off the post, found the back of the net off a penalty corner after Iona Holloway's initial shot was blocked for her fifth of the season.

UConn erased the one-goal deficit early in the second half. Chloe Hunnable scored her first of two goals in the game, sneaking a shot inside the right post off a steal in the 40^th minute.

Millman answered for the Orange less than six minutes later, making a terrific diving tip-in on a drive from the top of the circle off the stick of Pinder for the senior's team-leading 11^th goal of the season.

Pinder scored her goal in the 63^rd minute on a tip-in at the left post off a Jordan Page assist, the Orange's second goal of the game coming from a penalty corner. It was the freshman's eighth of the season while Page picked up her team-best ninth assist.

Hunnable pulled UConn within a goal, scoring off penalty corner with 4:48 to go, but that would be enough for the nation's top-ranked defense as it kept the Huskies off the board for the duration of the game.

Senior goalie Leann Stiver made two saves as she and her classmates improved their record in conference games to 23-1 in their four years and ran the Orange's home winning streak to 36 games.

Prior to the game, a senior day ceremony was held on the field honoring Haley Bomboy, Holloway, Amy Kee, McInerney, Millman and Stiver.

The BIG EAST Championship semifinal matches will be played at Trager Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky on Friday. The championship game will take place on Sunday at 1 p.m. SUathletics.com will have ticket information as well as links for video and live stats.