Orange Advance to Tomorrow's NCAA Quarters after 4-2 Win

Saturday, November 14

11:30 a.m.

Syracuse University

(18-1)

#20 Massachusetts

(12-9)

UMass

Syracuse

Orange Advance to Tomorrow's NCAA Quarters after 4-2 Win

11/14/2015 1:58:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

Sack scores twice in the win.

The No. 2 Syracuse field hockey team advanced to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday after defeating No. 20 UMass 4-2.

The Orange will now take No. 16 Princeton on Sunday at J.S. Coyne Stadium, seeking the programs third final four appearance in four years.

"I thought we played a really good second half," said head coach Ange Bradley. "I think the statistics show our dominance. I think we had some great attacks and moved the ball well."

Syracuse out-shot the Minutewomen 29-3 on the afternoon and drew eight penalty corners to UMass' one.

The Orange got an early goal from senior Emma Russell when she converted on a rebound. Roos Weers' initial shot was blocked and found the stick or Russell on the far side of the cage. She buried the shot to give the Orange a 1-0 lead in the first-10 minutes of action.

Despite 12 first half shots for 'Cuse the teams headed to the locker room with just Russell's goal being the difference.However, Syracuse upped the pressure in the second, scoring three goals early on coming out of the locker room.

The first came on another rebound, with Liz Sack scoring her first-of-two goals on the afternoon just 1:05 into the second half.

Syracuse then converted a corner just 1:41 later, with Lies Lagerweij burying the shot on assists from Emma Russell and Alma Fenne.

Sack then scored her second in front of the net off a deflection with 23:37 left in the game to increase Syracuse's lead to four.

The Minutewomen attempted to get back in it late, netting two goals four minutes apart in the final-11 minutes of play to provide the 4-2 final tally.

Shauna Rankin-Byrne buried a deflection off a corner play with 10:21 to play to end the shutout, and Sarah Hawkshaw then scored from right in front to cut the deficit to two.

Senior goalkeeper Jess Jecko made one save on the day and it came at a crucial time, thwarting a UMass shot at point-blank range with the Orange holding just a 1-0 lead.

Sunday's NCAA Quarterfinal matchup will take place at 2 p.m. and be televised on Cuse.TV for free. Tickets to the event are $6 for adults and $3 for youth and can only be purchased at the door.