Boston College
(6-1, 1-0ACC)
Syracuse
(6-1, 0-1ACC)
No. 17 Field Hockey Upsets No. 5 Syracuse, 6-3
September 20, 2013 | Field Hockey
Sept. 20, 2013
Photo Gallery
Newton, Mass. - The 17th-ranked Boston College field hockey team earned 6-3 victory over fifth-ranked Syracuse to open Atlantic Coast Conference play on Friday afternoon at Newton Campus Field Hockey Complex. The Eagles (6-1, 1-0 ACC) scored on all six shots they took to beat a previously undefeated Orange (6-1, 0-1 ACC) team.
Down 2-1 in the first half, BC scored three goals in a span of two-and-a-half minutes to pull ahead. The victory marked the first for the Eagles over the Orange since 2009.
"I think our players set a very good standard for BC field hockey today," head coach Ainslee Lamb said after the win. "The point that I just made to them is that it's a repeatable standard and that is what I am most excited about. I thought they played a great game tonight. Our motto is '25 Strong' and there is no question that 25 athletes won this game today, but what is more exciting is that we have the potential to repeat that type of effort, energy and execution."
The Orange struck first, scoring in the fourth minute of play. Leonie Geyer hit the back of the net on a direct shot on goal on a corner attempt. Emma Russell inserted and Jordan Page made the stick stop.
The Eagles answered less than two minutes later when junior Emma Plasteras dribbled through multiple defenders and centered the ball. SU did not clear the ball and with goalie Jess Jecko out of position, sophomore AshLeigh Sebia was able to put the ball in the net to even the game.
Syracuse regained the lead in the 16th minute as Russell tipped in Geyer's shot on another corner attempt, but the BC scoring flurry quickly followed. In the 24th minute, senior Virgynia Muma scored on her own rebound after sophomore Romée Stiekema spun through two defenders on the right side oof the field and centered it. Just a minute and 20 seconds later, senior Paige Norris dribbled it into the circle and lifted it into the air on net. Senior Chapin Duke tipped it past Jecko to give the Eagles the 3-2 lead. Only 24 seconds later, Duke controlled the ball from Plasteras and put BC up, 4-2, on a scrum in front of the net. Less than two minutes later, freshman Eryn McCoy nailed a shot past Jecko on a corner with Plasteras and Norris assisting, to go up, 5-2.
Before the end of the half, Russell scored her second goal of the afternoon after BC goalie Leah Settipane made two saves on a corner attempt, but could not come up with the third and Russell put the rebound back in the 33rd minute of action.
Junior Abby Bascetta made a defensive save as time expired and the Orange played out a corner in the first half. Settipane made an initial save and a second shot came off a rebound, the midfielder stopped it from going into the net.
In the second half, the only score came when the Eagles were awarded a penalty stroke. Junior Sarah Hospodar tallied her first goal of the season at the 60:14 mark to put BC up, 6-3. The back also made a defensive save as time winded down after Settipane made an initial save on a corner shot, keeping the ball out of the net and preserving the Eagles' lead.
Syracuse outshot BC, 20-6, taking 15 shots in the first half. The Orange was awarded nine corners to the Eagles' three. Settipane tied a career-high with 10 saves on the day.
The Eagles return to action Sunday, Sept. 22 when they host Providence at 3 p.m. at Newton Campus.
Team Stats
Leonie Geyer (5)
Assisted By: Emma Russell , Jordan Page
on the corner, 12 inserted, 3 stick stop
3:42
AshLeigh Sebia (2)
9 brought into circle, passed it off, SU
5:26
Emma Russell (4)
Assisted By: Leonie Geyer
On a corner, out to 13 straight shot on
15:07
Virgynia Muma (4)
off her own rebound after 14 crossed int
23:33
Chapin Duke (1)
Assisted By: Paige Norris
12 dribbled it into the circle (in the a
25:50
Chapin Duke (2)
Assisted By: Emma Plasteras
9 dribbled in, scrum in front of net
26:14
Eryn McCoy (6)
Assisted By: Paige Norris , Emma Plasteras
corner - 9 inserted to 12 stick stop, 13
28:01
Emma Russell (5)
goalie saved first 2 shots on the corner
32:31
Sarah Hospodar (1)
BC Sarah Hospodar PENALTY STROKE GOAL, goal number 1 for season.
60:14
