For three seasons Betsy Wagner sat quietly and waited. Stuck behind All-American goalie Audrey Latsko, Wagner had no choice but to wait patiently. She sharpened her game and hoped her time would come.

Now that it has come, Wagner has shown she is more than capable of handling the Orangewomen field hockey goalkeeping duties. During Syracuse’s four-game homestand, Wagner allowed only four goals. She gave up one goal and had two saves in Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Rutgers.

‘It’s different, but it’s great being able to play every day,’ Wagner said. ‘Especially after sitting behind an All-American for three years.’

Despite seeing no game action last season behind Latsko – Wagner redshirted the season – she did see significant playing time two years ago when Syracuse head coach Kathleen Parker felt that Latsko needed time off.

Wagner helped stabilize the team without the All-American goalie, starting four games in a row to end the 2001 season. That year, the Orangewomen won the Big East championship.

Parker believes Wagner’s performance in those games helped her earn the confidence of her teammates, making this year’s transition easier.

‘I don’t think anyone is consciously thinking about (the goalie change),’ Parker said. ‘I know they have confidence in Betsy because the only time she ever played when Audrey was here, she stepped right in and never batted an eye.’

Parker also thinks Wagner’s time on the bench behind Latsko helped improve her decision-making.

Now, with Latsko gone, the challenge has become even greater for Wagner. After three losses to open the season, during which she surrendered 11 goals, Wagner led the Orangewomen on a 3-1 homestand, a streak which concluded with Saturday’s loss.

Wagner also earned ECAC Goalkeeper of the Week and Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors for her role in the Orangewomen’s three-game winning streak.

Her consistent play of late has continued to earn the respect of her teammates, which has led some to say that not much has changed since Latsko’s graduation.

‘It’s the same talk, same communication, so I’m used to that,’ junior defender Lindsay Kocher said. ‘We’re confident in her and we don’t have to worry if anything happens to get by the defense. Having confidence in your goalie is big. You have to (have it). With Betsy, I know everyone on the field does.’

For most people, having shots fired at you at 90 mph might seem like a death sentence, but Wagner relishes the challenge. Both Wagner and her teammates agree that all goalies have to be crazy.

‘You won’t meet one normal goalie,’ Wagner said. ‘And if they’re normal, then they’re not good. Any goalie you ask will tell you that goalies in general aren’t normal, whether it’s soccer, water polo or field hockey.’

Published on September 21, 2003 at 12:00 pm