Syracuse is officially the No. 1 team in the nation.

The Orange earned the top ranking in this week’s Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I Coaches Poll, which was released Tuesday. The Orange is now 9-0 on the season for the first time since 2008 when Syracuse started 14-0 en route to a Final Four appearance. That year was also the last time the Orange was ranked No. 1.

This team is attempting to do what that team couldn’t: win the NCAA Championship.

Syracuse will look to stay undefeated this weekend when it plays Louisville (7-3) at noon Saturday and Yale (3-4) at 2 p.m. Sunday. Both games are at J.S. Coyne Stadium.

While the Orange appreciates the No. 1 ranking, the players also know there’s more to be attained.

Shutout victories over Rutgers and then-unbeaten Princeton last weekend helped propel the team into the top spot. Sunday’s win over the Tigers marked the second top-three ranked opponent that SU has beaten this season. North Carolina was the first.

“I feel like we’ve been working so many years for it and it’s finally happening,” midfielder Liz McInerney said.

This ranking is particularly special to senior goalkeeper Leann Stiver, but she also realizes this isn’t the team’s overall goal.

“In my time here we’ve never reached this point, so it’s an amazing feeling to have that No. 1, but it’s something that we can’t pay too much attention to and we just need to keep moving on,” Stiver said.

The stellar play of the team can be traced back to the players’ common belief in the importance of team chemistry. Every practice and game brings this group even closer together, forming what may be a dangerous team as the season continues.

“We’ve got so many experienced players and a lot of young ones, too, so it’s just great to have this team chemistry going on right now and it’s so exciting for us,” back Iona Holloway said.

“Our chemistry and leadership is outstanding and that is transferring to our play on the field,” head coach Ange Bradley said.

With the team being ranked No. 1 and garnering extra attention, the campus is slowly but surely becoming more aware of the team’s unbeaten streak.

The team is riding a 32-game winning streak at home. Syracuse hasn’t lost a game at J.S. Coyne Stadium since 2009, but still isn’t fazed by the pressure to keep the streak alive.

“You can see that you have a target on your back or a badge of honor on your chest, and we look at it as a badge of honor and it’s a symbol of pride,” Bradley said. “Each opportunity, whether we win or lose, we’re going to learn from.”

While the Orange realizes the significance of earning the top rank, it still isn’t celebrating the accomplishment too much. The ultimate goal of winning a championship is still down the road.

“It is an honor and a great sign of respect from our peers to recognize what we’ve done thus far this season,” Bradley said. “However, I want it in November.”

High rankings in November translate to a higher seed in the NCAA tournament. The team is trying to win as many games as possible to guarantee a satisfactory spot and will look to take care of the rest from there.

For now, Syracuse is taking it one game at a time, recognizing its achievements, but not resting upon them.

Said Bradley: “It’s not how many wins you have or what ranking; it’s who wins last.”

Published on September 27, 2012 at 1:21 am

Contact Jasmine: jlwatk01@syr.edu