Spring Break
The Daily OrangeFH | Inexperience finally catches up in overtime loss at Louisville
By Zach Zagger
Posted: 9/24/07, 11:42 PM EST Section: Sports
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The more experienced Louisville pulled out a 2-1 double-overtime win against SU last Friday, a telling sign that the team is almost where it needs to be, but in close games, it is experience that gives opponents the advantage.
"I think that we played hard and we were right there with them," SU head coach Ange Bradley said, "we just couldn't get the result that we wanted."
This 2007 field hockey squad can be characterized by one telling statistic: Out of the 24-player roster, 11 are freshmen and five are sophomores. Still the team has started off to an 8-2 record, but those two losses show that the lack of experience has caught up with the Orange.
Syracuse played two road games this weekend, losing to Louisville (6-4, 1-0) on Friday but beating St. Louis, 5-0, on Saturday. The loss dropped SU in the Big East standings from first to fourth.
"We've got a ton of people doing things for the first time," Bradley said. "The fact that we're 8-2 is pretty darn incredible."
The Orange took the early lead against U of L when SU senior forward Jessica Lerew scored off a pass from midfielder Maggie Befort less than five minutes into the game. The Cardinals came right back with a goal of their own only seven minutes later.
The game remained tied throughout regulation and into a second overtime period with Syracuse junior keeper Heather Hess recording 11 saves. Louisville senior Allison Maffitt scored the unassisted game winning goal.
Louisville played a very direct, in-your-face style of hockey, Bradley said, and the shot totals reflect it. The Cardinals outshot the Orange 27-7 and forced seven corners to SU's four. The Orange failed to score more than one goal for the third time this season.
Bradley said she was proud of her team's performance, but in the end, the Cardinals were a little more experienced and a little stronger, and that's what made the difference.
Louisville started six seniors against the Orange, which is more than the total on SU's roster. The U of L upperclassmen made an impact against SU, highlighted by Maffitt's game-winning goal and junior back Lauren Schaefer earning Big East defensive player of the week accolades.
Syracuse turned things around against St. Louis on Saturday in a game that was almost opposite of the one against Louisville. The Orange had no trouble scoring or keeping the Billikens off the scoreboard in the 5-0 win.
Goalkeepers Hess and freshman Christina Puggi combined for the shutout. Bradley said the team is improving each game, and the rebound effort against St. Louis is the most recent example. It just does not yet have the experience to face the best teams in the country - yet.
Even with the 1-1 weekend, the Orange is still off to one of its best records in school history.
"Whenever you are doing something for the first time, it's a journey of self discovery, and each opponent we face is an opportunity to learn a little more about ourselves," Bradley said. "And we just have to keep growing as a unit, getting better and better."
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