VILLANOVA, Pa. – It’s rarely easy for a head coach and a program to bid farewell to their senior class at the end of each year.

But this class is arguably the most successful in Syracuse program history. After leading the Orange to a second straight final four – this one without 2012 Tewaaraton Award finalist Michelle Tumolo – the depleted group of seniors led SU in a second-half comeback against Maryland only to fall short in the final minutes.

“We have an incredible group of seniors that we’ll be saying goodbye to,” said SU head coach Gary Gait. “They had amazing careers at Syracuse and helped really take this program to the next level – three final fours in their four years.

“I’m very proud of them.”

The college careers of the Orange’s seniors came to an end with No. 4-seed SU’s 11-10 loss to No. 1-seed Maryland in the final four of the NCAA tournament on Friday night at Villanova Stadium. They may not have put together their best individual performances, but collectively they were instrumental in Syracuse’s near-comeback efforts against the Terrapins.

Becca and Linley Block were staples of the Orange’s defense, as they were all season long, and used their superior quickness to SU’s advantage. The Blocks utilized their speed to gain extra possessions on loose balls and often served as one-man clears, burning most opponents who tried to keep up and knock the ball loose.

On Friday, the twins did just that. Linley Block scooped up a ball off a UMD turnover near SU’s cage, and converted the clear all by herself. In a foot race for an overthrown pass, Becca Block ran down the ground ball in Syracuse’s defensive zone and the pick-up led directly to an Orange goal at the other end.

Midfielder Bridget Daley buried the Orange’s only free-position opportunity with 1:16 remaining in the first half to draw Syracuse within a goal of Maryland. And Tumolo – sidelined with a torn left ACL since April 16 – donned her Syracuse uniform for the last time, barring she receives a medical redshirt.

And the seniors’ influence on this Orange team isn’t lost on their teammates.

“I’m going to miss our seniors a lot,” junior midfielder Katie Webster said, “but we definitely have a lot of talent coming back.”

On the other hand, Gait and the Orange are looking forward to the coming years, as several underclassmen proved reliable contributors throughout this season.

Freshman Kayla Treanor emerged in the absence of Tumolo and recorded six points against the Terps on Friday. Freshman Maddy Huegel, always a factor around faceoffs in the center circle, came away with an impressive, full-extension steal in the first minute of the game.

Gait talked about the insignificance of age in his playing rotation earlier in the season, and how SU hopes to groom younger players by gaining big-game experience early in their careers.

“It’s nice to have that young talent with some experience,” Gait said. “We’ll regroup and reevaluate and have some freshmen coming in. It’s nice to have that depth and we’ll build from that. Hopefully, these players will get back here and feel more confident and step up when we need them.”

But in the postgame press conference shortly after SU’s upsetting loss to Maryland, Gait put more of a focus on his seniors than on Syracuse’s future. This senior class didn’t bring him a national championship, but it still elevated the program to new heights.

After the game, the sense of community that’s developed between the Orange players was exemplified as Becca Block tried to put her career in perspective.

“It’s just been amazing to be part of such a high program. Not only were we part of a team, but…” she said, before struggling to finish her thought.

Webster chimed in, and the two said it together with wide smiles and laughs: “We’re a family.”

Published on May 25, 2013 at 11:17 am

Contact Phil: pmdabbra@syr.edu | @PhilDAbb