Syracuse field hockey coach Kathleen Parker called it one of the best games her team has ever played against Penn State. By that logic, one would think the Orangewomen were coming off an upset of the No. 6-ranked Nittany Lions.

But that’s not the case.

Syracuse lost, 4-1, Tuesday afternoon at Penn State’s Bigler Field. But it was the effort that the Orangewomen displayed that pleased Parker.

‘The girls played with a lot of heart,’ Parker said. ‘They looked like a different team than the other night against Rutgers (SU lost, 1-0). They played much harder with a lot more intensity.’

Syracuse (3-5, 0-1 Big East) finally displayed the early-game intensity it coveted when it scored just 13:45 into the game on a penalty-corner from sophomore Joanne Lombard. Senior forward Ann-Marie Guglieri and junior Meredith Gettel assisted on the goal that gave SU an early 1-0 lead.

But that one goal wouldn’t suffice.

Penn State’s Timarie Legel scored with less than 10 minutes to go in the first half to even the score. In the second half, the Nittany Lions (7-1) scored three unanswered goals, two of them coming in the last 10 minutes, to put the game out of reach.

‘Penn State picked up the intensity level,’ Parker said, ‘and came at us harder in the second half.’

She said it was a few costly mental breakdowns that played a role in determining the final score, not a talent discrepancy.

What further compromised the Orangewomen in the second half was fatigue. SU was using a zone press on defense with great success, but as the game wore on, the style of defense wore down the Orangewomen.

‘We used a zone press effectively,’ Parker said, ‘but it’s very, very tiring and it took a toll.’

Where the fatigue was most noticeable was in the final score.

‘It was one of the best games we’ve ever played against Penn State,’ Parker said. ‘Nobody walked away saying it was a 4-1 game. Everyone, including the Penn State coaches, said that it was like a 2-1 game. There wasn’t anyone that came off the field disappointed about the effort and competitiveness.’

Another positive for SU was its lone goal. When Lombard found the cage, it was her fourth of the season, matching her entire total from two years ago (Lombard missed last season due to injury). It’s also a good indicator of how well the defensive star is playing on penalty corners, her only offensive opportunities. The sophomore has become the main threat for SU when it takes to the circle for a corner.

‘She’s a good corner shooter,’ Parker said. ‘She places it fairly well.’

Syracuse will need to build on anything positive from Tuesday’s game as it travels to face No. 17 Boston College on Sunday. It’s the second Big East matchup of the year for both squads.

Published on September 24, 2003 at 12:00 pm