#2 Orange Shines on Senior Day vs. #3 UNC, 1-0

Saturday, November 2

Syracuse, N.Y.

1 p.m.

Syracuse University

(15-2, 4-2)

North Carolina

(14-4, 3-3)

North Carolina

Syracuse

Senior Day honorees (L to R) Laura Hahnefeldt, Anna Crumb, Adrian Chambers, Sarah Kerly and Leonie Geyer

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

11/2/2013 3:47:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. - A terrific defensive effort led the No. 2 Syracuse field hockey team (15-2, 4-2 ACC) to a 1-0 victory in its regular season finale vs. No. 3 North Carolina (14-4, 3-3 ACC) on Saturday at J.S. Coyne Stadium. The Senior Day victory extended the Orange's home winning streak to 45 games and secured it the No. 2 seed in next week's ACC Tournament.

As the No. 2 seed, Syracuse will play seventh-seeded Boston College in the opening round of the ACC Tournament on Thursday at 1 p.m. The game can be watched live on ESPN3 or on the WatchESPN app. The Eagles, who defeated SU, 6-3, on Sept. 20, are hosting the tournament that runs Nov. 7, 8 and 10.

On the day seniors Adrian Chambers, Anna Crumb, Leonie Geyer, Laura Hahnefeldt and Sarah Kerly were honored in a ceremony before the game, it was Kerly who scored the game's lone goal in the 13^th minutes. The class finishes the regular season a perfect 36-0 at home in their careers.

Syracuse's defense was stellar all game, holding the top scoring offense in the nation to just six shots. The win, which avenges a 6-1 UNC win in the national semifinals last season, is Syracuse's second shutout against the Tar Heels in as many years. The Orange beat UNC, 1-0, in overtime on Sept. 1, 2012 at Coyne Stadium. Those are the only two times the Tar Heels have been shut out since 2009.

Sophomore goalie Jess Jecko made three saves in goal to earn her 15^th victory, fourth by way of shutout. Her best save of the day was a diving stop on a penalty corner after the Orange had two defenders taken away for leaving early.

Kerly entered the game in 13^th minute and made her presence felt immediately. Streaking down the right side after subbing in, she took the ball on a pass from Emma Russell, went by a defender and flipped a shot by UNC goalie Sassi Ammer on the short side to give the Orange the only goal it would need.

Syracuse had an apparent second goal waved off in the second half with 13:22 remaining when Karlee Farr converted on a pass from Kerly at close range, but it was ruled the ball went off Kerly's foot.

North Carolina pulled its goalie following a timeout with 9:41 left, but the Orange defense was once again up to the challenge, not allowing a shot over the duration of the game.

Final shots were 9-6 in favor of SU. UNC had the edge in penalty corners, 4-3.

Also honored as part of the Senior Day ceremony before the game were four-year volunteer assistant Mike Young and second-year graduate assistant athletic trainer Jenny Russell.