Spring Break
The Daily OrangeWSOC | Playoff hopes dashed after loss to UConn in season finale
By George Williams
Posted: 10/29/07, 12:50 AM EST Section: Sports
Twenty minutes into Sunday's game between Connecticut and Syracuse and it was already clear which was the better team. Syracuse lacked exactly what UConn excelled at - possession control with swift and fluid passing.
But in the 21st minute, the SU women's soccer team finally got its chance to control the possession. Just across midfield, Syracuse midfielder Jen Taormina made a quick adjustment with the ball to evade her defender. Within seconds, she spotted an open passing lane and delivered the ball between two Connecticut defenders to her teammate Chelsea Berry.
UConn goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe reacted quickly, leaving her post to come out and challenge Berry. But Berry beat her to the ball and fired a shot from the right side of the box into the unguarded goal. As the ball approached the wide open net, a Husky defender, seemingly from nowhere, stepped in to reject the shot.
With game scoreless at halftime, No. 18 Connecticut (12-4-1, 8-2-1) opened the second period with two quick goals and held the Orange at bay for the remainder of the game as UConn defeated Syracuse (7-8-4, 3-6-2), 2-0, in front of 423 fans at SU Soccer Stadium Sunday.
The loss ends the Orange's season and playoff hopes. For the second straight year, SU failed to qualify for the Big East Tournament.
After SU's thrilling come-from-behind 2-1 overtime victory versus Providence and South Florida's 2-0 loss against West Virginia Friday night, the Orange entered Sunday's game knowing a victory would bring an automatic berth into the tournament.
"The odds were for us I think," freshman forward Megan Bellingham said. "Especially with South Florida and the game they had to play. We all thought we could get through."
After Friday's games, SU led South Florida by a single point for the fifth and final spot in the American division of the Big East conference. The top five teams qualify for the tournament beginning this Friday. So much of the Syracuse game hinged on the result of South Florida's matchup with Pittsburgh last Sunday.
But in the 21st minute, the SU women's soccer team finally got its chance to control the possession. Just across midfield, Syracuse midfielder Jen Taormina made a quick adjustment with the ball to evade her defender. Within seconds, she spotted an open passing lane and delivered the ball between two Connecticut defenders to her teammate Chelsea Berry.
UConn goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe reacted quickly, leaving her post to come out and challenge Berry. But Berry beat her to the ball and fired a shot from the right side of the box into the unguarded goal. As the ball approached the wide open net, a Husky defender, seemingly from nowhere, stepped in to reject the shot.
With game scoreless at halftime, No. 18 Connecticut (12-4-1, 8-2-1) opened the second period with two quick goals and held the Orange at bay for the remainder of the game as UConn defeated Syracuse (7-8-4, 3-6-2), 2-0, in front of 423 fans at SU Soccer Stadium Sunday.
The loss ends the Orange's season and playoff hopes. For the second straight year, SU failed to qualify for the Big East Tournament.
After SU's thrilling come-from-behind 2-1 overtime victory versus Providence and South Florida's 2-0 loss against West Virginia Friday night, the Orange entered Sunday's game knowing a victory would bring an automatic berth into the tournament.
"The odds were for us I think," freshman forward Megan Bellingham said. "Especially with South Florida and the game they had to play. We all thought we could get through."
After Friday's games, SU led South Florida by a single point for the fifth and final spot in the American division of the Big East conference. The top five teams qualify for the tournament beginning this Friday. So much of the Syracuse game hinged on the result of South Florida's matchup with Pittsburgh last Sunday.
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