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The Daily OrangeWLAX | Freshmen Rowan, Mosenson debut with 7 combined goals
By Zach Schonbrun
Posted: 2/27/06, 1:21 AM EST Section: Sports
It did not take long for freshmen Syracuse women's lacrosse players Katie Rowan and Meg Mosenson to adjust to the college game.
Contributing to each of the Orange's first four goals in the opening 19 minutes of the first half and eight of the team's 15 for the game, Mosenson and Rowan quickly washed away the opening day jitters. No. 13 Syracuse beat Harvard, 15-9, in the Carrier Dome on Saturday and will take on Dartmouth today at 3:30 p.m.
In a game that was never close, Mosenson scored three and Rowan four - the most by a freshman since Jill DePetris scored four goals against Colgate on March 30, 2004. Junior Gaddy Fortune added three goals and one assist. But the freshmen filled the storyline.
"Both Katie and Meg really soften up the corners and dominate up front," Miller said. "They took advantage of the opportunities and didn't turn the ball over."
Firing often, both players were in the action quickly on Saturday. Mosenson assisted Caitlyn Dragon on SU's first goal and then followed up with a score of her own. Rowan then added back-to-back goals to give the Orange (1-0) a 4-1 lead. Coming out of halftime with an 8-2 lead, both freshmen scored twice.
Mosenson and Rowan gave Harvard (0-1) trouble with their contrasting styles. Mosenson used her size and strength to create her own scoring opportunities and set up chances for her teammates. A nifty spin move early in the second half broke down her opponent, allowing her a clear shot for her third and final goal of the game.
Rowan, whose speed and 5-foot-10 height posed problems for the Crimson defense, sliced her way into the zone. Rowan took 10 of the Orange's 41 total shots in the game, seven in the first half.
"You see the opportunities and take what the defense gives you," Rowan said. "The college game is so much faster. I just tried to get involved."
Part of an impressive recruiting class that features eight newcomers, Mosenson and Rowan entered the season with integral roles on the team, and were the only two freshmen to start Saturday's game. While freshmen defender Bridget Hamm and attack Allison Smuts also played significant minutes in their first game, Mosenson and Rowan clearly stole the show.
"In high school we saw that they both can really score and have significant potential," Miller said.
Both players admitted to pregame nerves, but said the upperclassmen helped them adjust to opening day in the Dome. Rowan said after a few minutes on the field her nervousness went away, which was about the time of her first career goal.
The SU offense, which already features preseason All-Big East selections Dragon and Meghan O'Connell, received a big lift from its freshman duo, and will look for similar contributions facing Dartmouth. The Big Green, which lost only three starters from last year's Final Four team, beat the Orange, 9-8, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 2005.
With the addition of Mosenson and Rowan, however, SU may have a scoring combination to look forward to for a few years to come.
"I know I still have a lot to work on as far as shooting and my angles," Mosenson said. "But the other girls have really helped me out and gave me a lot of pointers. It was pretty much what I expected."
Contributing to each of the Orange's first four goals in the opening 19 minutes of the first half and eight of the team's 15 for the game, Mosenson and Rowan quickly washed away the opening day jitters. No. 13 Syracuse beat Harvard, 15-9, in the Carrier Dome on Saturday and will take on Dartmouth today at 3:30 p.m.
In a game that was never close, Mosenson scored three and Rowan four - the most by a freshman since Jill DePetris scored four goals against Colgate on March 30, 2004. Junior Gaddy Fortune added three goals and one assist. But the freshmen filled the storyline.
"Both Katie and Meg really soften up the corners and dominate up front," Miller said. "They took advantage of the opportunities and didn't turn the ball over."
Firing often, both players were in the action quickly on Saturday. Mosenson assisted Caitlyn Dragon on SU's first goal and then followed up with a score of her own. Rowan then added back-to-back goals to give the Orange (1-0) a 4-1 lead. Coming out of halftime with an 8-2 lead, both freshmen scored twice.
Mosenson and Rowan gave Harvard (0-1) trouble with their contrasting styles. Mosenson used her size and strength to create her own scoring opportunities and set up chances for her teammates. A nifty spin move early in the second half broke down her opponent, allowing her a clear shot for her third and final goal of the game.
Rowan, whose speed and 5-foot-10 height posed problems for the Crimson defense, sliced her way into the zone. Rowan took 10 of the Orange's 41 total shots in the game, seven in the first half.
"You see the opportunities and take what the defense gives you," Rowan said. "The college game is so much faster. I just tried to get involved."
Part of an impressive recruiting class that features eight newcomers, Mosenson and Rowan entered the season with integral roles on the team, and were the only two freshmen to start Saturday's game. While freshmen defender Bridget Hamm and attack Allison Smuts also played significant minutes in their first game, Mosenson and Rowan clearly stole the show.
"In high school we saw that they both can really score and have significant potential," Miller said.
Both players admitted to pregame nerves, but said the upperclassmen helped them adjust to opening day in the Dome. Rowan said after a few minutes on the field her nervousness went away, which was about the time of her first career goal.
The SU offense, which already features preseason All-Big East selections Dragon and Meghan O'Connell, received a big lift from its freshman duo, and will look for similar contributions facing Dartmouth. The Big Green, which lost only three starters from last year's Final Four team, beat the Orange, 9-8, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 2005.
With the addition of Mosenson and Rowan, however, SU may have a scoring combination to look forward to for a few years to come.
"I know I still have a lot to work on as far as shooting and my angles," Mosenson said. "But the other girls have really helped me out and gave me a lot of pointers. It was pretty much what I expected."
