Big East field hockey saved
As Syracuse field hockey coach Kathleen Parker drove to Rochester yesterday, she finally felt at ease.
She’s fretted since May about the Big East’s future. Her nerves peaked last month, when the field hockey league was cut from six to five teams, as Boston College left for the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Since Louisville, which plays field hockey, joined the Big East yesterday, the league ensured it would have six teams, enough to have an automatic-qualifier spot for the NCAA Tournament.
Among the five Conference USA schools that jumped to the Big East yesterday, Louisville is the only one that plays field hockey. Field hockey is the only SU team that would’ve lost a chance at an NCAA automatic-qualifier spot if the Big East failed to bring in a school that played its sport.
Does Parker think the Big East suits considered that, essentially saving her team?
‘In my heart, I would love to believe it,’ she said on her way to a recruiting stop. ‘But in my mind, I don’t think it crossed their minds. I don’t think it ever was a thought.’
She’s probably correct, since football – and, consequently, money – has driven conference expansion for the past six months.
And money will continue to factor in. SU usually flies for one road trip a year. Now, the Orangewomen must fly to Louisville every other year, eliminating a long-distance, non-conference game, like the one they played at Northwestern this past weekend.
‘I would think it would pose a bunch of problems,’ Parker said. ‘But I didn’t make the decision.’
She’s just happy that someone did. And that the decision worked out in her favor.
