Staff : Field hockey scores 60th goal to shatter record in win
The No. 2 Syracuse field hockey team made a goal at the start of year to eclipse the program’s single-season goal record. The Orange accomplished that task Wednesday afternoon during a 3-1 win at Albany, scoring its 60th goal of the season and surging past the previous record of 58 goals, set in 1990. What’s more impressive, Syracuse (11-0, 2-0 Big East) accomplished the feat in only 11 games. It still has eight games remaining.
Blowouts have become commonplace for the Orange offensive juggernaut this season. Syracuse blew by Colgate, 12-0, on Sept. 2 and New Hampshire, 10-0, on Sept. 21. Overall, the Orange has outscored its opponents 60-13 this year.
Wednesday’s contest wasn’t quite a blowout, but it was another win for an SU squad that remains the only undefeated team in Division I field hockey.
Freshman forward Nicole Nelson scored the record-breaking goal, controlling a rebound and pushing a shot into the goal to make it 2-1, Syracuse. The Great Danes (5-7) had gotten on the board first with a goal in the eighth minute, before SU senior midfielder Shannon Taylor’s equalizer in the 15th minute. Taylor added another goal – her team-leading 14th score – in the 53rd minute.
Freshman midfielder Martina Loncarica and sophomore back Maggie Befort registered assists on both of Taylor’s goals. Loncarica’s two helpers gave her 16 assists for the year – tied for the SU single-season record.
Goalie Heather Hess finished with four saves for Syracuse, which outshot Albany 18-9 and compiled a 14-7 advantage in penalty corners.
Syracuse returns home to host Yale at 1 p.m. Sunday. SU resumes the Big East portion of its schedule Oct. 10 when it travels to Georgetown.
-compiled by sports editor John Clayton
