For the fifth time in the first six games of the season, SU trailed or was tied with an unranked team at the half. Bucknell, who had already suffered losses to unranked James Madison and Richmond, scored the first goal of the game only seven minutes in.

While junior Carolin Hoffmann equalized in the second quarter, No. 23 Syracuse (5-1) entered halftime in familiar territory: needing a second-half push. The Orange found that two minutes into the third quarter through star freshman Charlotte de Vries, who now has seven of the team’s 13 goals on the season. SU eventually cruised to a 3-1 victory over Bucknell (2-3). 

Against Vermont in the season opener, the Orange trailed by a goal with under eight minutes remaining before de Vries tallied the tying goal in the fourth quarter and game-winning goal in overtime. Two days later, de Vries scored the game’s only goal in a 1-0 overtime win against UMass Lowell. On Sept. 2 against Lafayette, she slotted home SU’s first goal, spurring the three-goal comeback.

Then, today, she scored the goal that would put the Orange up for good only a few minutes into the third quarter. Standing on the left wing, following a shot by junior Chiara Gutsche, de Vries fired her patented reverse-hit, sending the ball to the back of the cage.

“I think no matter what it’s a team effort but she has such a natural ability and talent for goal scoring,” junior Claire Cooke said on Sept. 11, “That just comes from her talent. She is always in a good position to get the ball.”

Eight minutes after de Vries’ score, Cooke held the ball on the right wing. She whipped her stick, sending the ball toward the goal. Gutsche, standing in the way, placed her stick on the ground, tipping it past the Bucknell goalkeeper. The junior – who scored eight goals last year –  scored her first of 2019, giving the Orange a two goal lead they wouldn’t relinquish. 

Syracuse plays next against No. 6 Virginia at J.S. Coyne Stadium on Sept. 20.