Six Former Orange on Display in USA vs. Ireland Series
5/19/2017 9:23:00 AM | Field Hockey
When Ireland and the U.S. Field Hockey Team square off in a three-day series next week, there will be plenty of Orange showcased.
Former Orange stars Emma Russell, Zoe Wilson and Gillian Pinder will take the field for the Irish, while Alyssa Manley, Jess Jecko and 'Cuse rising senior Laura Hurff will represent the U.S.
The game will reunite five members – including all three captains – from the Orange's 2015 NCAA Championship squad, as Manley, Jecko and Russell all wore captain's bands that season, while Hurff and Wilson starred for SU as well. They group led the Orange to a 21-1 record overall, including a perfect 16-0 mark in regular season play. The squad completed just the 10th undefeated regular season in school history and was the first team since 1990 to accomplish the feat.
Manley, the recipient of the 2015 Honda Award, presented annually to the top field-hockey student-athlete, boasts the most international experience for those representing the U.S. She was a 2016 Olympian and played in the 2015 Pan Am games among other international events. Earning All-America honors each of her final-three seasons at SU, she started 66-straight games to conclude her 'Cuse career, earning ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors as a senior.
Hurff heads into her senior year as a reigning two-time All-American and an All-ACC selection. She also has built an impressive international resume for the U.S. having most recently participated in the Junior World Cup with the U-21 team. She started 16 games last season, recording 16 points.
Jecko was a stalwart in goal during the Orange's national championship run during her senior season. She allowed just 1.01 goals against – which ranked second nationally - with a .735 save percentage. Her penalty stroke save in the NCAA title game secured the team's championship and put the exclamation point on her season that saw her earn All-ACC accolades.
Russell graduated as the Orange's all-time leading scorer with 140 points, breaking Martina Loncaria's record (139) with a goal in the 2015 NCAA title game. She also owns the career goals record with 57. Russell was an NFHCA All-American as both a junior and senior and was named to the All-ACC team in each of her final-three seasons.
Wilson played just one season at SU, but was one of the star backs on a unit that finished second nationally in goals against average. She also scored the only goal of her career in the 2015 NCAA Championship game – which served as the eventual game-winner.
Pinder was an NFHCA All-Mideast Region First Team honoree and a member of the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team in 2012. She played in 22 games with 20 starts and notched 10 goals and eight assists in her season with the Orange.
The U.S. and Ireland will play on three nights from May 27-29 at the Spooky Nook Sports Complex, the training facility for the U.S. National Team.
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Former Orange stars Emma Russell, Zoe Wilson and Gillian Pinder will take the field for the Irish, while Alyssa Manley, Jess Jecko and 'Cuse rising senior Laura Hurff will represent the U.S.
The game will reunite five members – including all three captains – from the Orange's 2015 NCAA Championship squad, as Manley, Jecko and Russell all wore captain's bands that season, while Hurff and Wilson starred for SU as well. They group led the Orange to a 21-1 record overall, including a perfect 16-0 mark in regular season play. The squad completed just the 10th undefeated regular season in school history and was the first team since 1990 to accomplish the feat.
Manley, the recipient of the 2015 Honda Award, presented annually to the top field-hockey student-athlete, boasts the most international experience for those representing the U.S. She was a 2016 Olympian and played in the 2015 Pan Am games among other international events. Earning All-America honors each of her final-three seasons at SU, she started 66-straight games to conclude her 'Cuse career, earning ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors as a senior.
Hurff heads into her senior year as a reigning two-time All-American and an All-ACC selection. She also has built an impressive international resume for the U.S. having most recently participated in the Junior World Cup with the U-21 team. She started 16 games last season, recording 16 points.
Jecko was a stalwart in goal during the Orange's national championship run during her senior season. She allowed just 1.01 goals against – which ranked second nationally - with a .735 save percentage. Her penalty stroke save in the NCAA title game secured the team's championship and put the exclamation point on her season that saw her earn All-ACC accolades.
Russell graduated as the Orange's all-time leading scorer with 140 points, breaking Martina Loncaria's record (139) with a goal in the 2015 NCAA title game. She also owns the career goals record with 57. Russell was an NFHCA All-American as both a junior and senior and was named to the All-ACC team in each of her final-three seasons.
Wilson played just one season at SU, but was one of the star backs on a unit that finished second nationally in goals against average. She also scored the only goal of her career in the 2015 NCAA Championship game – which served as the eventual game-winner.
Pinder was an NFHCA All-Mideast Region First Team honoree and a member of the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team in 2012. She played in 22 games with 20 starts and notched 10 goals and eight assists in her season with the Orange.
The U.S. and Ireland will play on three nights from May 27-29 at the Spooky Nook Sports Complex, the training facility for the U.S. National Team.
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Players Mentioned
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