The last time the Syracuse women’s soccer team faced Miami coach Tricia Taliaferro, it needed a win to continue its season.

That was the first round of last year’s NCAA Tournament, when Taliaferro coached Illinois. In that game, the Orangewomen defeated the Fighting Illini, 1-0, to advance.

On Sunday, the Orangewomen once again found itself in need of a victory against Taliaferro. They came into the game 2-5-1 (0-2-0 Big East) and desperate for a win to bolster their hopes of returning to the tournament.

Though the Orangewomen earned a 2-2 tie and a much-needed point in the Big East standings, the result maintained SU coach April Kater’s perfect record against Taliaferro.

“I don’t know that I’m happy with the tie,” Kater said. “You don’t want to blow it (the perfect record). So I guess a tie kind of preserves it.”

The friendly rivalry between Kater and Taliaferro began two seasons ago, when SU defeated Illinois, 3-0. Last year, the Orangewomen beat the Illini, 2-1, in Champaign, before winning the NCAA Tournament game.

Kater said Thursday that she hoped to keep her perfect record against Taliaferro.

“(Kater) reminds us of it,” junior captain Erica Mastrogiacomo said, “and it’s a little bit of a personal incentive for coach.”

And it didn’t surprise Taliaferro that the Orangewomen played so well against the Hurricanes despite recent struggles.

“I was expecting them to play as well as they did,” Taliaferro said. “It was a situation where (Kater) had to get them ready to play well, and she did that.”

The two coaches don’t let the rivalry affect them off the field. Kater said they went out together Saturday night before the game and would probably hang out again before Taliaferro headed back to Miami.

“It’s not like I look at her as a rival,” Taliaferro said.

“Illinois is a big-time team, and she helped put them on the map,” Kater said. “She’s on her way to doing the same with Miami.”

Published on September 29, 2002 at 12:00 pm