ITHACA – Two minutes into last night’s field hockey game between Cornell and Syracuse, one thing Cornell knew was it wasn’t facing last year’s Orange team.

Six minutes in, the only upbeat thing the Big Red had going for it was the pep band.

Paige Sullivan and Brittany Carriero’s early goals dissolved any Cornell thoughts of upsetting No. 16 Syracuse (6-4, 2-0 Big East). Rather than playing the giant killer as it had the last three games, SU came out as the giant, dictating the pace of the game, the possession of the ball and the scoring chances.

Another goal in the second half from Sullivan, coupled with a Jessica Dahle penalty-stroke goal, was all SU wrote in a convincing 4-0 victory. It was the first shutout of the season for Syracuse and the 21st straight time it has beaten Cornell.

Everyone who suited up for the game played last night, led by freshman Courtnie Geissler, who notched her first collegiate assist on Sullivan’s second goal.

‘This was a good opportunity to get her some quality time,’ associate head coach Mary McCracken said, ‘and it always helps when you can get ahead by a couple of goals.’

Syracuse’s scoring continues to be an offense by committee approach. Sullivan was the latest Orange player to pad her stat sheet with two scores.

‘I think it shows the balance we have offensively,’ McCracken said.

Betsy Wagner was her usual sturdy self in the cage. She saw her first real action with only 12 minutes remaining in the game, but made quick work of Cornell’s threats.

It was also a bit of a homecoming for head coach Kathleen Parker, who played college basketball and field hockey at neighboring Ithaca College.

Schoellkopf Field, where SU and Cornell play every two years, also brought back memories. In Parker’s first season, the Orange played at the Division II level. In her first practice, only eight people showed up. That didn’t last long. Syracuse played in a snowstorm later that year at Schoellkopf Field for the national championship against Lockhaven. Parker’s team lost.

‘The footprints in the snow were significant to who was dominating the game,’ she said, ‘because at Lockhaven’s offensive end there were footprints everywhere. Only their goalie was making footprints (at our end).’

Schoellkopf Field, which resembles The Coliseum on one side, belonged to Parker and her team last night, though. Syracuse looked in control from the opening whistle. Its five-game winning streak wasn’t expected, but Parker knows talent doesn’t say everything in field hockey.

‘You can make up a lot if you’re playing with heart,’ she said. ‘The fact is that everybody’s contributing. We would be a tough team to scout. There certainly isn’t one person you can key in on. I love that aspect.’

Published on September 29, 2004 at 12:00 pm