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Field Hockey

No. 14 Syracuse blows lead in final 5 minutes in 3-2 loss to No. 16 Stanford

Elizabeth Billman | Asst. Photo Editor

The Orange were outshot 11-9 but the Cardinal on Saturday, but all nine of Stanford's shots came in the final three quarters.

By Danny Emerman

With less than five minutes remaining, the Orange clung to a 2-1 lead thanks to goals from juniors Claire Cooke and Sarah Luby. SU’s sixth win in its last seven games was within reach. 

But the Cardinal had other plans. Stanford’s Frances Carstens’ goal in free play evened the score at 2-2, and Emma Alderton’s steal-and-score put Stanford on top. On Saturday night in Berkeley, California, No. 14 Syracuse (8-3, 1-1 Atlantic Coast) failed to hold its lead to No. 16 Stanford (7-5, 1-0 America East) in a 3-2 loss.

In the first quarter, Syracuse out-shot Stanford 4-0 and had three penalty corner opportunities, but couldn’t find the back of the net. It was only a matter of time before SU scored.

Seven minutes into the second quarter, Cooke put the Orange on top, 1-0, with her second goal of the season. Stanford, though had a response. Four minutes later, Stanford junior Corinne Zanolli set up Lynn Vanderstichele for an equalizer. Zanolli, who broke the Stanford single-season record with 26 goals last season, recorded five shots and that assist.

In the third quarter, Luby put SU back on top. The Orange maintained a 2-1 lead for the next 20 minutes, until Alderton and Carstens led Stanford’s late comeback.



This week, Syracuse head coach Ange Bradley cited the back line as an area that needs improvement, particularly after Duke recorded 17 more shots than SU on Sept. 27. Saturday’s loss added questions about SU’s defense, as Stanford out-shot Syracuse by five in the fourth quarter.

Syracuse’s defense wasn’t the only problem on Saturday. In total, SU was out-shot 11-9 and failed to convert on three penalty corner chances. Syracuse freshman Charlotte de Vries, who averages 1.33 goals per game (second in the ACC), was held scoreless and limited to one shot one day after she tallied a hat trick against California.

With the 3-2 loss, Syracuse has now won five of its last seven games. In that stretch, SU beat No. 2 Duke, then-No. 14 Saint Joseph’s, but lost to No. 5 Virginia and, now, Stanford.





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