Orange Celebrate 45th Anniversary of Title IX
6/23/2017 11:00:00 AM | General
Today is the 45th anniversary of one of the most crucial events in the development of women's athletics in the nation. On June 23, 1972, President Richard Nixon signed Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibited high schools and colleges that receive federal funding from discriminating on the basis of gender in any program or activity, including sports. Since that time, Syracuse University's women's programs have grown to become some of the best in the country.
Women's athletics at Syracuse dates back all the way back to the late 1800s and, in 1905, Katharine Sibley, SU's first instructor of women's physical education and athletics, established the Women's Athletic Association.
In 1971, Lucille Verhulst, the Director of Women's Physical Education, submitted a proposal to Chancellor Melvin Eggers to grant varsity status to five women's club sports. Chancellor Eggers approved her proposal and basketball, fencing, swimming and diving, tennis and volleyball were sanctioned by the AIAW, the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women. Fencing was replaced by field hockey the next year.
In 1975, the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women became operational and Doris Soladay was named Syracuse's first, and as history would later prove, only Director of Women's Athletics. Rowing joined the women's intercollegiate program in 1977 and cross country and track & field were added in 1981.
In the early 80s, the NCAA embraced women's sports and the AIAW later disbanded. At Syracuse, the men's and women's athletic departments merged in 1982 under Athletic Director Jake Crouthamel.
Syracuse added three women's sports in a span of four years in the 1990s. Soccer began play in 1996, while lacrosse played its inaugural season in 1998. Softball was added in 2000. Ice hockey became Syracuse's newest sport when it debuted in 2008-09.
Below is a list of Syracuse's current women's programs.
Basketball
First Varsity Season: 1971
Program Highlight: Advanced to the National Championship game in 2016
Cross Country
First Varsity Season: 1981
Program Highlight: Has advanced to the NCAA Championship seven times in the last nine years, including a 10th-place finish in 2010
Field Hockey
First Varsity Season: 1972
Program Highlight: Won 2015 National Championship
Ice Hockey
First Varsity Season: 2008-09
Program Highlight: Has advanced to the CHA Tournament final for the past three years
Indoor and Track & Field
First Varsity Season: 1981
Program Highlight: 12 All-Americans
Lacrosse
First Varsity Season: 1998
Program Highlight: Has advanced to the Final Four in five of the last six years
Outdoor Track & Field
First Varsity Season: 1981
Program Highlight: Seven straight years with at least one All-American
Rowing
First Varsity Season: 1977
Program Highlight: Finished 13th at the 2017 NCAA Championship for the second straight year
Soccer
First Varsity Season: 1996
Program Highlight: Advanced to the NCAA Tournament in just its third season
Softball
First Varsity Season: 2000
Program Highlight: Won back-to-back BIG EAST Tournament titles in 2010 and 2011
Tennis
First Varsity Season: 1971
Program Highlight: Earned first team bid to the NCAA Tournament in 2016
Volleyball
First Varsity Season: 1971
Program Highlight: Kelly Duan earned AVCA Honorable Mention All-America honors in 2004 and 2005
Women's athletics at Syracuse dates back all the way back to the late 1800s and, in 1905, Katharine Sibley, SU's first instructor of women's physical education and athletics, established the Women's Athletic Association.
In 1971, Lucille Verhulst, the Director of Women's Physical Education, submitted a proposal to Chancellor Melvin Eggers to grant varsity status to five women's club sports. Chancellor Eggers approved her proposal and basketball, fencing, swimming and diving, tennis and volleyball were sanctioned by the AIAW, the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women. Fencing was replaced by field hockey the next year.
In 1975, the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women became operational and Doris Soladay was named Syracuse's first, and as history would later prove, only Director of Women's Athletics. Rowing joined the women's intercollegiate program in 1977 and cross country and track & field were added in 1981.
In the early 80s, the NCAA embraced women's sports and the AIAW later disbanded. At Syracuse, the men's and women's athletic departments merged in 1982 under Athletic Director Jake Crouthamel.
Syracuse added three women's sports in a span of four years in the 1990s. Soccer began play in 1996, while lacrosse played its inaugural season in 1998. Softball was added in 2000. Ice hockey became Syracuse's newest sport when it debuted in 2008-09.
Below is a list of Syracuse's current women's programs.
Basketball
First Varsity Season: 1971
Program Highlight: Advanced to the National Championship game in 2016
Cross Country
First Varsity Season: 1981
Program Highlight: Has advanced to the NCAA Championship seven times in the last nine years, including a 10th-place finish in 2010
Field Hockey
First Varsity Season: 1972
Program Highlight: Won 2015 National Championship
Ice Hockey
First Varsity Season: 2008-09
Program Highlight: Has advanced to the CHA Tournament final for the past three years
Indoor and Track & Field
First Varsity Season: 1981
Program Highlight: 12 All-Americans
Lacrosse
First Varsity Season: 1998
Program Highlight: Has advanced to the Final Four in five of the last six years
Outdoor Track & Field
First Varsity Season: 1981
Program Highlight: Seven straight years with at least one All-American
Rowing
First Varsity Season: 1977
Program Highlight: Finished 13th at the 2017 NCAA Championship for the second straight year
Soccer
First Varsity Season: 1996
Program Highlight: Advanced to the NCAA Tournament in just its third season
Softball
First Varsity Season: 2000
Program Highlight: Won back-to-back BIG EAST Tournament titles in 2010 and 2011
Tennis
First Varsity Season: 1971
Program Highlight: Earned first team bid to the NCAA Tournament in 2016
Volleyball
First Varsity Season: 1971
Program Highlight: Kelly Duan earned AVCA Honorable Mention All-America honors in 2004 and 2005
Syracuse Softball Highlights vs. Florida State 3/14/26
Saturday, March 14
Syracuse Softball Highlights vs. Florida State 3/13/26
Saturday, March 14
Highlights | Women's Lacrosse at #4 Northwestern
Friday, March 13
Regy Thorpe Postgame Press Conference vs. #4 Northwestern
Friday, March 13
