Syracuse Field Hockey still No. 4, showdown with No. 2 Duke looms

The Syracuse Orange field hockey squad came into this past weekend’s games as the No. 4 team in the nation. Following two gutty wins, they remain No. 4 in the nation, setting up a Top Five-showdown in the coming weekend.

UConn kept their No. 1 spot in the NFHCA Coaches Poll but it’s an ACC logjam behind them. No. 2 Duke, No. 3 North Carolina, and No. 4 Syracuse are right there and Penn State rounded out the top five. All seven ACC squads were included in the poll for the 41st-consecutive week.

Friday, SU rallied to defeat No. 7 Louisville 2-1 in overtime. Elaine Carey scored the equalizer with 17 minutes left in regulation and then Lies Lagerweij won the game 5:16 into overtime on a penalty stroke goal.

Sunday, the Orange found themselves down at halftime again only to rally in the second half to defeat Bucknell, 4-3. Lies Lagerweij scored the third and fourth Orange goal put SU ahead for good as they held off a late charge by the Bison.

The No. 4 Orange will now host the No. 2 Blue Devils on Friday in a huge ACC showdown. The game gets underway at 5 p.m. and will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra. They follow that up with a Sunday match against Cornell in Ithaca.