One dominating game was all it took. Just like that, three tough losses in which the Syracuse field hockey team surrendered 16 goals were distant memories.

Now, SU hopes to take the momentum of Wednesday’s 8-1 victory over Albany and carry it into Friday’s 7 p.m. matchup against Central Michigan and Sunday’s 1 p.m. contest against Columbia. Both games are at Coyne Field.

‘It was great to get that first win under our belts,’ senior forward Ann-Marie Guglieri said. ‘But we definitely can’t take the next two games lightly at all.’

Both the Chippewas and Lions enter the weekend 0-2. Columbia plays at Cornell on Friday. SU has beaten CMU, which features five players from the New York area, in the team’s two previous matchups.

‘The players are excited to go on this trip because for many of them, it will be a chance to go back home,’ CMU head coach Christy Freese said Tuesday. ‘The game against Syracuse will be a tough battle between two teams that right now don’t have a victory.’

One key to the Orangewomen’s success was the on-field communication, especially on the defensive end. Sophomores Joanne Lombard and Michelle Sola and junior Lindsay Kocher anchored a unit that allowed only seven shots on goal and six corner attempts.

Albany rarely challenged goalie Betsy Wagner, but when the Great Danes did, she was solid in stopping 3 of 4 shots. The junior is taking over the starting role for the first season after the departure of All-American goalie Audrey Latsko.

‘It’s good because me and Betsy work really well together because of our communication,’ Sola said. ‘Most of the time we’re on the same page, and if we’re not, I think we let each other know. If she feels one way about something and I feel another way, we talk it out and find something out that works for both of us.’

Despite the strong offensive play against Albany, the Orangewomen know there are still areas that need improvement. Guglieri said three areas SU needs to focus on are offensive ball movement, controlling the ball in the midfield and improving the defensive zone.

The Orangewomen also know it’s important not to overlook CMU and Columbia with a Big East opponent like Rutgers looming in the distance.

‘We’ve been playing well,’ Kocher said. ‘It doesn’t matter who you play. You shouldn’t look at the record. On any day, any team can win, so you just have to go out with the same intensity for every game whether its some Olympic team or you’re playing against third graders.’

Published on September 11, 2003 at 12:00 pm