No. 12 Orange Nipped in ACC Quarterfinals

Tuesday, October 31

Charlottesville, Va.

1 p.m.

Syracuse University

(10-7)

Virginia (4)

(12-5)

Syracuse

Virginia

10/31/2023 3:31:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score Photo Gallery

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 12 Syracuse University field hockey team suffered a 3-2 setback in the ACC Quarterfinals, falling to fourth-seeded No. 4 Virginia on Tuesday afternoon.

Fifth-seeded Syracuse (10-7) had a quick goal from Willemijn Boogert in the second minute of the game with Pieke van de Pas assisting. Eefke van den Nieuwenhof added a goal with Boogert and Sienna Pegram posting assists. Abby Neitch made three saves in net for the Orange.

Virginia (12-5) scored three times in the fourth quarter, including the tying and go-ahead goal in the final three minutes. Tyler Kennedy stopped three shots with a defensive save behind her as well. The Cavaliers had a dozen penalty corners, including four in the fourth quarter.

How it Happened

Syracuse scored out of the gate in transition as van de Pas corralled a ball down the left alley, sliding in a pass to a diving Boogert who tipped in the first goal of the game just 99 seconds in.
The second quarter saw a patented van den Nieuwenhof shot on the attacking penalty corner as Boogert inserted with a Pegram stick stop before van den Nieuwenhof dropped a huge shot past Kennedy. The ACC Defensive Player of the Year scored with two and a half minutes left in the first half as the Orange took a 2-0 lead into the break.
Neither side converted in the third quarter, despite three shots from the host Cavaliers. Neitch was up to the task of the lone Virginia shot on goal.
Virginia got on the board in the 46th minute on a corner attempt with Noa Boterman scoring on corner assists from Lilly Hengerer and Emily Field.
In the 58th minute, Virginia leveled the game on another corner attempt, this time with Laura Janssen and Jans Croon connected. Just 50 seconds later, Virginia took its first lead of the contest with a second Boterman goal, the game-winning strike.
Syracuse pulled its goalie but even with the extra attacker, could not find the equalizer.

Behind the Numbers

Syracuse weather a heavy corner attack from the Cavaliers early as eight of the 12 UVA corners were in the first 45 minutes. The Orange picked up four corners, all coming in the first 30 minutes of the game.
Neitch made three saves in her 58 minutes of action. Counterpart Kennedy stopped three Syracuse scoring chances with a defensive save, all coming in the first quarter.
Virginia out-shot the Orange 11-8 in the contest, limiting the Orange to all eight shots in the first half.

Up Next for Syracuse

Syracuse will await the decision of the NCAA Selection Committee and Sunday's Selection Show to see if the Orange will earn an at-large berth to the upcoming NCAA Field Hockey Tournament.
The 2023 NCAA Field Hockey Selection Show is set for a 10 p.m. showing on NCAA.com.