The Syracuse field hockey team spent last week playing the role of spoiler, knocking off three nationally ranked opponents. Two of those games – against No. 9 Boston College and No. 17 Penn State – went to overtime. The other, against No. 19 Hofstra, reached penalty strokes after a scoreless double overtime.

The roles will be reversed when the No. 16 Orange travels to Ithaca tonight at 7:30 to play Cornell.

The Big Red doesn’t have the prestige of the Eagles, Nittany Lions or Pride, but two factors could make the game harder than it looks on paper.

First, there is the Central New York rivalry. Though both teams are not in the same conference, they play each other every year. Syracuse won last year’s meeting at Coyne Field, 2-1, in overtime.

Second, Cornell has the chance to be a spoiler tonight because Syracuse has entered the national rankings after last week’s three wins. SU (5-4, 2-0 Big East) enters at No. 16, ahead of both Penn State and Hofstra, who each slipped to the last two spots in the 20-team poll (No. 19 PSU and No. 20 Hofstra).

Julie Mazer, the head coach at Lehigh, has seen both Cornell and Syracuse this year. The Mountaineers scrimmaged SU in the preseason and dropped a 6-3 decision to Cornell (2-4, 1-2 Ivy League) on Sept. 4.

‘I think both of those teams play a very team-oriented game,’ Mazer said. ‘I think it will be a good game, but it seems that (Syracuse) is getting on a roll. Syracuse is always strong and athletic and is well-coached. It seems that things are starting to click for them.’

Mazer was quick to point out the unexpected nature of field hockey, though. Lehigh dropped the 6-3 decision to Cornell but beat Columbia, 2-1. That Columbia team whitewashed the Big Red, 6-2.

‘You can be outshot 22-3 and still win 1-0,’ Mazer said. ‘I think the team that takes advantage of their opportunities is the team that’s going to win.’

Recently, that team has been Syracuse. In its game against Boston College, the Orange spent the entire first overtime desperately trying to hang on while BC kept the action in its offensive zone for all 15 minutes. But the Eagles couldn’t get one in the back of the cage on their five penalty corners and six shots on goal.

In the second overtime, Syracuse created one scoring chance and earned a penalty stroke that Ashley Fry was able to score on.

Mazer acknowledged some good speed on Cornell’s side and some aggressive play from its midfielders.

First-year Cornell head coach Donna Hornibrook will have to contend with a strong, experienced Orange defense and senior goalie Betsy Wagner, who won Big East Defensive Player of the Week. Fry was awarded Offensive Player of the Week for her efforts in the three-game win streak.

Before its four-game streak (SU beat Rutgers on Sept. 17), Syracuse was 1-4 and stumbling. It lost its only overtime game of the year to start the season against Temple, 4-3.

‘I don’t look at it as we gave up four goals,’ Joanne Lombard said afterward. ‘We put in three goals against an All-American goalie (Erin Conroy). We don’t look at the negative side of it, and I think that’s really going to define this team this year.’

Published on September 28, 2004 at 12:00 pm