Syracuse (9-5, 2-2 ACC) started the year off strong with five straight wins in their first five games. Since their win over UConn on February 25th , the team has gone 4-5, but none of their losses have been by more than three goals. With three games left until the ACC Tournament begins, here's a recap of the action from this past Saturday and last night.
Syracuse 22, Virginia Tech 8
The Orange had a field day against the Hokies (6-8, 0-5 ACC) with five players scoring at least three goals. Tech never truly got into a rhythm. The most goals they were able to muster in-a-row was three. Meanwhile, Syracuse had runs of four, five, and eight at different points in the game.
The game began with a goal by Taylor Gait, her 11th of the season. Meghan Macera tied it up at one a-piece 11 seconds later, but that would be the closest the Hokies would ever get again, as the Orange had their first run of the game with five goals in-a-row. Thirteen of their 22 goals were scored in the first half. Tech pulled within five with 7:09 to go in the period before Syracuse went on another run, this time scoring four times, one of them on the other side of halftime.
Kayla Treanor tallied her 34th goal of the season in the 14th minute of the second half, during the Orange's eight-goal run. The Hokies scored with 23 seconds to go from Mary Claire Byrne.
Key Players
Treanor scored four times in the team's blowout victory. Erica Bodt, Halle Majorana, Devon Collins, and Gait each had three goals for Syracuse, a total that would have been more than enough to still be in the winning column. Kailah Kempney led the way with nine draw controls as well as a goal of her own. In goal, Kelsey Richardson had six saves and allowed seven balls to go past her in all but the last 25 seconds of the game.
The only two Tech players with multiple goals were Macera and Megan Will, amounting to half of the team's grand total. Attacker Meg Bartley had 10 draw controls. Goaltender Meagh Graham allowed 19 goals and had six saves in 53:46 of gameplay.
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Notre Dame 12, Syracuse 11 (OT)
The Fighting Irish came out swinging with two straight goals to start the game. That was before the Orange went on a four-goal run, their first lead of the game coming with 18:38 to go in the half. Notre Dame tied it back up, the second one coming just as time expired.
Majorana put Syracuse up a goal, but the Irish quickly erased that with three in-a-row of their own. The rest of the half was pretty much back-and-forth between the teams. The Orange tied it up with two straight goals from Gait. Notre Dame's Heidi Annaheim scored the go-ahead goal with 3:44 to go in regulation. Bodt tied it back up for Syracuse, sending the game into overtime.
The Irish went ahead for good on consecutive goals by Rachel Sexton and Caitlin Gargan within 12 seconds of each other. Collins scored 19 seconds later, but the Orange couldn't extend the game any further and fell to the Irish.
Key Players
Sexton and Stephanie Troy had three goals each and Cortney Fortunato had two for Notre Dame. Defender Stephanie Pergallo had the most caused turnovers, with five. Liz O'Sullivan was solid in goal with nine saves and 11 scores allowed.
Gait and Collins led the way with three goals each for the Orange. Majorana had two and Bodt, Treanor, and Lisa Rogers had one a-piece. Kempney had eight draw controls and Kaeli O'Connor, who's been seeing more action lately, had five. Richardson had five saves, allowing 12 goals.
Up Next...
Syracuse heads out on the road again, facing No. 2 UNC this Saturday at noon in Chapel Hill, NC. The Tar Heels have won three straight after losing to No. 4 Boston College on March 21st, including a one-goal victory over Notre Dame. The Orange will be tested, playing against their seventh ranked opponent this season.
As always, G'ORANGE!