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The Daily OrangeWLAX | SU overcomes lowest 1st-half output with 10-goal barrage
By Christopher James
Posted: 4/27/08, 9:49 PM EST Section: Sports
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Despite an anemic offense that recorded its lowest first-half output of the season, No. 3 Syracuse found itself down just a goal, 3-2, at halftime Sunday.
With a lead on a team that beat him 18-3 three weeks earlier, Georgetown coach Ricky Fried said the narrow margin made him plenty nervous.
"I felt really good about how our defense played, and I was not real happy with how our offense played," Fried said. "We kind of bailed them out. We finish three or four of those other shots, and we have a bigger lead."
Just as Fried feared, a one-goal lead wasn't nearly the cushion the Hoyas needed, as the Orange outscored Georgetown, 10-3, in the second half en route to a 12-6 win in the Big East championship game here at Notre Dame Stadium. Syracuse will receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament in two weeks.
The other two times Syracuse trailed at halftime this season, it went on to lose against Virginia and Northwestern. But Orange coach Gary Gait was never fazed in this game.
"This was a one-goal game," Gait said. "We are very capable as an offensive team…I think we are in a little better condition and a little better prepared. This one we knew we could just battle back and keep going."
The game began with Georgetown controlling much of the possession. Despite three first-half goals, the Hoyas left many opportunities on the field. In a single possession, GU drew three different free position penalties and missed all of them.
Freshman Liz Hogan stood strong in net as she has all season long, finishing with 10 saves. The Hoyas couldn't capitalize on any of their six free position shots. On one attempt, Georgetown tried to pass off the free position, but leading scorer Ashby Kaestner was stuffed at point-blank range.
"(Hogan) was unbelievable," Gait said. "For a freshman to be that composed and that prepared to play, I give credit to Liz and Maggie (Koch) her coach…Liz was one of the players that stepped up."
With a lead on a team that beat him 18-3 three weeks earlier, Georgetown coach Ricky Fried said the narrow margin made him plenty nervous.
"I felt really good about how our defense played, and I was not real happy with how our offense played," Fried said. "We kind of bailed them out. We finish three or four of those other shots, and we have a bigger lead."
Just as Fried feared, a one-goal lead wasn't nearly the cushion the Hoyas needed, as the Orange outscored Georgetown, 10-3, in the second half en route to a 12-6 win in the Big East championship game here at Notre Dame Stadium. Syracuse will receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament in two weeks.
The other two times Syracuse trailed at halftime this season, it went on to lose against Virginia and Northwestern. But Orange coach Gary Gait was never fazed in this game.
"This was a one-goal game," Gait said. "We are very capable as an offensive team…I think we are in a little better condition and a little better prepared. This one we knew we could just battle back and keep going."
The game began with Georgetown controlling much of the possession. Despite three first-half goals, the Hoyas left many opportunities on the field. In a single possession, GU drew three different free position penalties and missed all of them.
Freshman Liz Hogan stood strong in net as she has all season long, finishing with 10 saves. The Hoyas couldn't capitalize on any of their six free position shots. On one attempt, Georgetown tried to pass off the free position, but leading scorer Ashby Kaestner was stuffed at point-blank range.
"(Hogan) was unbelievable," Gait said. "For a freshman to be that composed and that prepared to play, I give credit to Liz and Maggie (Koch) her coach…Liz was one of the players that stepped up."
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