Syracuse lost to Virginia 9-7 in Charlottesville, Va., Sunday. The No. 12 Orange (1-1, 0-0 Big East) jumped out to an early lead, but the No. 10 Cavaliers (3-0) used five free-position goals and a hat trick by midfielder Liza Blue to earn the win.

SU midfielder Katie Webster opened the scoring just two minutes into the game, capitalizing on a failed Virginia clear to give Syracuse a 1-0 lead. Just six minutes later, Cavaliers attack Ainsley Baker answered off an assist from fellow attack Josie Owen.

But just moments later, the Orange retook the lead on a free-position shot by attack Kailah Kempney. SU had a chance to extend the lead later in the half on another free-position shot, this one by attacker Alyssa Murray. But her goal was waved off after she stepped into the crease.

That goal would come back to haunt Syracuse, as Virginia scored four of the next five goals to end the half with a 5-3 lead.

Virginia’s scoring run continued in the second half as attack Charlie Finnigan beat Kelsey Richardson three minutes into the half. Richardson replaced Alyssa Costantino in net for the Orange in the second half.

In the next 10 minutes, each team scored a pair of goals before Blue broke through with a goal with 7:20 remaining to give the Cavaliers their largest lead of the game at 9-5.

SU made a late push with a pair of goals in the next two minutes, but the Virginia defense tightened up down the stretch and held Syracuse scoreless for the final 5:40 of the game.

The road doesn’t get any easier for the Orange. Syracuse returns to the Carrier Dome Wednesday at 7 p.m. for a matchup with the defending national champion No. 1 Northwestern.

Softball

Syracuse (5-5) rediscovered its offense in its two wins this weekend at the Cathedral Classic in Palm Springs, Calif., but was tripped up again by ranked Pac-12 teams.

After an opening-game loss to Pacific, the Orange beat Northwestern 9-3 and UC Davis 5-3. SU was then shut out by No. 16 Arizona 5-0. The Wildcats defeated the Orange by 10 runs in the Kajikawa Classic two weeks ago. SU also lost in its final game of the tournament 6-3 to No. 5 UCLA.

The UCLA loss was the low point for the Orange last weekend. Heading into the sixth inning, SU could not keep its 3-1 lead over the highly ranked Bruins.

Errors cost the Orange an early season upset Sunday. Pitcher Jenna Caira hit the leadoff batter in the top of the sixth, then gave up a walk later in the inning to load the bases. An error by shortstop Morgan Nandin kept the inning alive, and the two-run single afterward gave the Bruins a 4-3 lead.

UCLA capitalized on another SU fielding error in the top of the seventh inning and increased its lead to 6-3, the eventual final score of the game.

Despite the losses, outfielder Lisaira Daniels was a bright spot for SU throughout the tournament. The senior was 7-for-13 on the weekend (.538) and reached base in 14 of her 19 plate appearances. She also had three home runs.

The Orange will play in Orlando, Fla., next weekend for the Citrus Classic-ESPN Rise tournament. SU will play No. 24 North Carolina, No. 19 Auburn, Virginia, No. 12 Michigan and No. 10 Baylor.

Ice hockey

Syracuse skated to a pair of overtime thrillers against Niagara this past weekend. The Purple Eagles handed Syracuse its fifth straight loss Friday night with a power-play goal just 1:37 into overtime. The Orange rebounded in the regular-season finale Saturday, as sophomore Margot Scharfe scored the game-winning goal in overtime to give SU a 2-1 victory for its first conference win.

With the loss Friday, the Orange (10-21-3, 1-8-3 College Hockey America) finished fourth in the CHA standings and will face the league regular-season champion and No. 1 seed Mercyhurst in the CHA Tournament next weekend.

Niagara jumped out to an early 1-0 lead Friday with a power-play goal midway through the first period. SU responded less than two minutes later when junior Holly Carrie-Mattimoe scored her 14th goal of the season.

Syracuse wasted a power-play opportunity early in the third period and couldn’t take advantage of the extra skater. Sophomore goaltender Kallie Billadeau forced overtime despite the Orange getting outshot 12-4 in the final period. SU hurt itself with a hooking penalty in overtime, and Niagara’s Erica Owczarczak made the Orange pay with her second goal of the game.

On Saturday, Scharfe’s goal 3:13 into overtime lifted SU past the Purple Eagles. It was Scharfe’s 14th goal of the year, tying her with Carrie-Mattimoe for the team lead.

Sophomore goaltender Jenesica Drinkwater stopped 24 shots for the Orange, including 14 in the second period, to pick up her fourth win.

The CHA Tournament begins Friday in Moon Township, Pa.

Published on February 26, 2012 at 12:00 pm