Taylor Bigbie’s decisive blocks drive SU’s stellar penalty corner defense
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First runners aren’t trying to get hit with the ball. At least not most of them. But ask Taylor Bigbie, who’s often pelted on penalty corners, and she’ll quickly interject.
“No, I am (trying to get hit),” she said before SU’s home-opening win over UMass Lowell Friday.
“She is,” Aubrey Turner added with little hesitation.
Through six games, No. 11 Syracuse’s first runners have charged forward to the top of the shooting circle on 46 penalty corners. Each time, they’re putting themselves directly between SU’s cage and the ball.
Syracuse has only allowed one goal on those attempts — against Ohio State on Sept. 4.
The Orange weathered 12 penalty corners against Northeastern, including nine in the fourth quarter. They fended off 10 of 11 versus the Buckeyes the next weekend, shutting down all six of their fourth-quarter attempts. Two days later, Syracuse stopped 11 at then-No. 20 Rutgers, surviving two tries from the Scarlet Knights in the last minute of regulation and two more in the final 20 seconds of overtime.
“We have two of the best first runners in the nation,” SU head coach Lynn Farquhar said of Bigbie and Bo Madden on Sept. 2. “When you’re looking at bravery and a position where you’re putting on the gear and you celebrate when you get hit, it’s a pretty strong group, so something we’re proud of.”
Two weeks later, Farquhar reiterated the importance of SU’s flyers to its winning start, but also expressed a desire to lighten their load.
Taylor Bigbie holds her stick at J.S. Coyne Stadium. The sophomore’s blocks have helped Syracuse to a near-perfect record defending penalty corners. Tara Deluca | Photo Editor
“We don’t need to test them all the time, though,” Farquhar said on Sept. 16.
It’s a hazardous job, and so far this season, a busy one. Still, it’s one Bigbie loves.
“DPC is one of my favorite parts of practice,” she said. “I think when Lynn says it, I get very excited. I’m like, ‘This is my time.’”
Bigbie and Turner describe practices as competitions between SU’s defensive and attacking units, bringing game-intensity and the mentality that “every ball can be a game winner” to weekday reps.
This season, every ball could be. All but one of Syracuse’s first six games – a 10-0 thrashing of Bucknell – have been decided by one score, and SU’s DPC unit has made it nearly impossible for opponents to find the back of the net on their corner attempts.
Bigbie views blocking shots as her responsibility. Before games, Farquhar encourages her players to identify three traits to carry to the pitch and use to assess their performance. Bigbie’s are always the same: she’s going to make her leads, defend the ball and get hit.
I think most teams know the name Taylor Bigbie. And if they’re up against Taylor Bigbie, I think they’re a bit worried.Aubrey Turner, Syracuse forward
Getting hit happens “quite often,” she said. But if you ask Bigbie how she feels when colliding with the ball, her first thought isn’t physical pain.
“Honestly, it’s moments of pride,” Bigbie said. “I’m like, ‘OK, I did my job, I put my body on the line for the team.’”
“Watching Taylor want to get hit, it backs me up,” Turner said of her teammate. “I know our DPC is so strong just because of how much pride she has behind the line.”
With 15 seconds remaining in overtime against Rutgers on Sept. 6, Bigbie redirected a potential game-winning shot away from Syracuse’s goal and out of bounds past the left sideline.
“She blocks, what, almost every shot?” Turner said. “It’s like, seriously, ridiculous.”
Turner isn’t exactly exaggerating. Look at Bucknell. Syracuse played a clean game, finishing with zero fouls and five penalty corners to the Bison’s four. It’s SU’s only time this season with more penalty corners than its opponent.
With Bigbie flying, Bucknell didn’t come close to scoring on its penalty corners. She blocked all four Bison attempts, smothering the first three with her stick before nicking Bucknell’s fourth try out of play.
Syracuse’s DPC unit practices intimidating and frustrating its attacking teammates.
In-game, behind the line, it’s a stare-down. Bigbie zeroes in on the opponent, then runs as hard as she can at the shooter and the streaking ball she’d rather have strike her than the twine of the goal she’s defending.
“I think most teams know the name Taylor Bigbie,” Turner said. “And if they’re APC (attacking penalty corner unit) up against Taylor Bigbie, I think they’re a bit worried.”
