Syracuse Women's Field Hockey Falls to UConn, 1-0, in the National Championship

The No. 4 Syracuse Orange lost, 1-0, to the No. 3 Connecticut Huskies in College Park, Md. in the team's first national championship appearance in program history.

The Orange (18-6) fell just short in its mission to become the first women's team at Syracuse to win a national title. Syracuse dominated play at times -- particularly in the first half -- but seemingly every Orange rush was met by a host of white defenders.  UConn stopped a Syracuse penalty corner with 21 second to play, one last offensive chance for the Orange in a game that was full of them.  Syracuse never got a shot off and the Huskies were able to run out the clock for its second straight championship.

Mckenzie Townsend scored the game's only goal around the 26th minute.  The Huskies earned their own penalty corner and a shot from outside the goal circle was deflected by Townsend, who was standing in front of the net.

The Orange out-shot the Huskies, 7-4, and had several solid scoring chances, but just couldn't put anything past UConn goalie Nina Klein. It was only the third shutout against Syracuse all season, who came into the game fourth in the nation with an average of 3.45 goals per game.

Emma Russell, Syracuse's leading scorer, came close to tying the game with about five minutes to play.  Klein was out of position after a wild scramble in front  of the net and the ball caromed over to Russell to the left of the cage. The junior forward from Ireland, however, had to one-time the ball at a sharp angle and her shot sailed wide of the net.

Even in the loss, the Orange made program history by reaching the title game.  Ange Bradley had reached two Final Fours in eight seasons at Syracuse, but this marked the first time she's coached in the title game.