No. 4 Orange Hosts No. 17 BU in NCAAs

No. 4 Syracuse (15-5) vs. No. 17 Boston University (13-7)
Game Details: Saturday, November 15 | 11:30 a.m.
Location: J.S. Coyne Stadium | Syracuse, N.Y.
Game Coverage: Live Stats | Video | @Cuse Twitter | @CuseFH Twitter
Game Notes: Syracuse

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The No. 4 Syracuse University field hockey team begins NCAA Tournament play on Saturday with its first round matchup against No. 17 Boston University at 11:30 a.m. at J.S. Coyne Stadium. Syracuse is making its 10th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history and seventh under head coach Ange Bradley.

For the second straight year, Syracuse is one of four schools serving as hosts for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Following the Syracuse-Boston University game, Boston College and Penn State will meet at 2 p.m. The winners will meet on Sunday at 2 p.m. in the quarterfinals, with a trip to the Final Four on the line. Tickets for adults are $6, while tickets for students with institutional identification cards or individuals 18 and under are $3.

Bradley's Bite
"We're excited. It helps you get moving forward a lot quicker knowing that your work that you have done and beating the No. 1 team in the country earned you the right to get a host bid."

Scoring Machine
Junior forward Emma Russell has emerged as one of the top scoring threats in NCAA Division I field hockey. Russell leads Syracuse in scoring this season with 42 points on 19 goals and four assists. She ranks first in the ACC in goals per game (0.95) and sixth in the country.

The Enniskerry, Ireland native ranks fourth in Syracuse history in goals scored for her collegiate career and fifth in points. Currently, she has 99 points on 40 goals and 19 assists. With three more goals, she would move into second place all-time.

Russell put together a spectacular showing at the 2014 ACC Championship. She scored a tournament record six goals in four days, including the game-winning goal in overtime against No. 1 North Carolina. In the quarterfinals against No. 9 Boston College, she set an ACC Championship record with four goals scored. Her effort also matched the Syracuse single game record.

Tournament Tested
For the seventh consecutive season, Syracuse has advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The Orange owns a 9-9 overall record in NCAA Tournament play and has advanced to the national semifinals twice in program history.

Last season, the Orange earned the No. 2 overall seed for the NCAA Tournament. It marked the third time in program history that the team hosted a first round contest. Syracuse lost to Michigan State, 1-0, in the first round.

Two years ago, the team advanced to its second Final Four in school history. The Orange stymied No. 16 Massachusetts, 4-2, and then defeated first and second round host No. 3 Penn State on its home turf, 5-2. Its season ended in the national semifinals with a 6-1 setback to No. 1 North Carolina in Norfolk, Va.

Series Breakdown
The Orange and Boston University will meet for the 15th time in series history in the first round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament. It marks the first time the two have met in the NCAA Tournament. Syracuse holds a 9-5 advantage in the series and has taken the past three meetings.

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Players Mentioned

Emma Russell

Syracuse University Athletics