Spring Break
The Daily OrangeFH | Final stretch crucial for SU
By Josh Friedman
Posted: 10/21/05, 1:45 AM EST Section: Sports
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Syracuse field hockey is starting a new season this afternoon. It isn't a new year or the playoffs, but it does begin the final four games of the SU regular season, leading head coach Kathleen Parker to tell the team it's a new beginning.
The next four games are preparation for the Big East tournament, which, barring a cataclysmic collapse, will see SU as a participant.
Syracuse hosts Quinnipiac today at 1 p.m., then finishes its Big East season against No. 12 Connecticut on Sunday. A win over UConn would give SU first place in the conference and the No. 1 seed in the tournament.
"Whether you're ranked first or fourth, it's anyone's game once you get (to the tournament)," junior forward Meg Ryan said. "Either way, it's nice to go to the tournament."
The team knows the Connecticut game is important, but is not looking past Quinnipiac, as each game is a way to improve on the basics, which SU has struggled with this season.
"We need to take Friday to prepare us for Sunday, and Sunday for the next game," Ryan said. "We need to play the best hockey we can and build off of that every game."
"Every game will make us better for the Big East and anything after that," sophomore forward Jessica Lerew said.
Passing and receiving have been two problems Syracuse has battled all season and were some of the things Ryan said the Orange needed to work on.
SU received a break at the end of its schedule as it finishes with four home games after having six of its past eight games on the road. Those games were not just around Central New York, either. The Orange traveled as far as Penn State, Louisville and Providence.
One big help for the Orange this week was that it did not have a Wednesday game for the first time in three weeks, all of which were away.
But even with all the travel, SU has won four of its last five games. If it beats the Huskies, Syracuse will have a win over a ranked Big East team and a bitter rival.
"I just want to beat UConn," Ryan said. "My final two choices came down to Syracuse and UConn, so I have a big hate for UConn. It'd be nice to beat them."
