2001 NCAA Tournament
Syracuse earned its second NCAA Tournament at-large bid in 2001. The Orange made is second trip to Champaign, Ill. for a first-round matchup against the host Illinois. The Fighting Illini held a 6-1 shot-on-goal advantage at intermission, but was unable to convert on its scoring opportunities. SU freshman goalkeeper Shannon Myers made five saves in the opening stanza, including a point-blank stop on a shot from Tara Schuling.
After Illinois couldn’t take advantage of a scoring chance less than three minutes into the second half, Syracuse was finally able to maintain possession in its offensive zone. The result was a goal by sophomore midfielder Erica Mastrogiacomo that put the Orange ahead 1-0 at 50:19. Mastrogiacomo drove to the endline and then cut to the top left corner of the box where she slotted a shot to the near post past Illini keeper Leisha Alcia for her first goal of the season.
Illinois answered with a shot off a corner from midfielder Lindsay Johnson that would have gone in if not deflected by Maureen Tohidi and then volleyed-out by Tracy Stalker. Myers made key saves throughout the rest of the game, as did the SU defense. The Illini offensive onslaught continued the entire second half, culminating with three shots that were either blocked or off goal from within the penalty box in the last eight seconds of the game.
Myers finished the game with a career-high nine saves. Illinois held a 15-2 advantage in corner kicks and a 27-9 shot advantage in the game.
No. 2 Santa Clara was up next for the Orange. The Broncos outshot Syracuse, 11-1, in the first half, but couldn’t find the back of the net as the teams were tied at 0-0 at intermission. Myers recorded four saves in the opening period.
Santa Clara would convert on its second shot of the second half second half when Leslie Osborne put a pass from Kerry Catchcart into the right corner of the net at 46:52. It was the first goal Myers had given up in the last 341:18 of play.
The Broncos converted a penalty kick at 58:58 and added two more insurance goals to take its largest lead of the game at 4-2 in the 72nd minute.
Syracuse graduate student Erin Parsons put the Orange on the board when she put home a pass from sophomore Anne-Marie Lapalme in the 82nd minute for the final 4-1 score.
SU (12-7-0) was outshot 23-2 in the game. Myers finished with eight saves as the Orange ended the season with a 12-7 record.
After Illinois couldn’t take advantage of a scoring chance less than three minutes into the second half, Syracuse was finally able to maintain possession in its offensive zone. The result was a goal by sophomore midfielder Erica Mastrogiacomo that put the Orange ahead 1-0 at 50:19. Mastrogiacomo drove to the endline and then cut to the top left corner of the box where she slotted a shot to the near post past Illini keeper Leisha Alcia for her first goal of the season.
Illinois answered with a shot off a corner from midfielder Lindsay Johnson that would have gone in if not deflected by Maureen Tohidi and then volleyed-out by Tracy Stalker. Myers made key saves throughout the rest of the game, as did the SU defense. The Illini offensive onslaught continued the entire second half, culminating with three shots that were either blocked or off goal from within the penalty box in the last eight seconds of the game.
Myers finished the game with a career-high nine saves. Illinois held a 15-2 advantage in corner kicks and a 27-9 shot advantage in the game.
No. 2 Santa Clara was up next for the Orange. The Broncos outshot Syracuse, 11-1, in the first half, but couldn’t find the back of the net as the teams were tied at 0-0 at intermission. Myers recorded four saves in the opening period.
Santa Clara would convert on its second shot of the second half second half when Leslie Osborne put a pass from Kerry Catchcart into the right corner of the net at 46:52. It was the first goal Myers had given up in the last 341:18 of play.
The Broncos converted a penalty kick at 58:58 and added two more insurance goals to take its largest lead of the game at 4-2 in the 72nd minute.
Syracuse graduate student Erin Parsons put the Orange on the board when she put home a pass from sophomore Anne-Marie Lapalme in the 82nd minute for the final 4-1 score.
SU (12-7-0) was outshot 23-2 in the game. Myers finished with eight saves as the Orange ended the season with a 12-7 record.
