Spring Break
The Daily OrangeDefenses dominate in Orange's first confrence game
By Jen McCaffrey
Posted: 9/22/08, 12:26 AM EST Section: Sports
"I asked Eliza to play a little higher off her goal line so she could scoop up all the balls that came through," said SU head coach Phil Wheddon. "She did a great job of playing - marshaling behind the back four and denying them goal scoring opportunities either with her feet our her hands. I thought she was exceptional tonight."
Her counterpart, St. John's goalkeeper Kristin Russell, had a busier night, recording 10 saves on 16 shots from the Orange. In eight games this season, Russell has only allowed two goals.
"We planned to get up high and put a lot of pressure on them," Bennett-Hattan said. "We've been training really hard in practice putting in good hard workouts, and I think its starting to pay off. We're getting to the balls we can get to easier and faster."
The Orange defense was aggressive in keeping the ball on the Red Storm side of the field allowing four shots on goal.
"A big role definitely in this game was catching them offsides," said sophomore defender Marjory Elwell. "Sticking together as a team in the back communicating with each other and figuring out where everyone else is going to be so you can support them and get behind them."
Wheddon credited the team for its intensity and collaboration on the field working off each other to get possession of the ball. Even though neither team scored, Wheddon found a silver lining.
"Obviously the first game in the Big East there's some pressure there," Wheddon said. "We out-shot them, and as a team that beat us last year for us to come out and outplay and out-shoot them was very positive for us."
jcmccaff@syr.edu
Her counterpart, St. John's goalkeeper Kristin Russell, had a busier night, recording 10 saves on 16 shots from the Orange. In eight games this season, Russell has only allowed two goals.
"We planned to get up high and put a lot of pressure on them," Bennett-Hattan said. "We've been training really hard in practice putting in good hard workouts, and I think its starting to pay off. We're getting to the balls we can get to easier and faster."
The Orange defense was aggressive in keeping the ball on the Red Storm side of the field allowing four shots on goal.
"A big role definitely in this game was catching them offsides," said sophomore defender Marjory Elwell. "Sticking together as a team in the back communicating with each other and figuring out where everyone else is going to be so you can support them and get behind them."
Wheddon credited the team for its intensity and collaboration on the field working off each other to get possession of the ball. Even though neither team scored, Wheddon found a silver lining.
"Obviously the first game in the Big East there's some pressure there," Wheddon said. "We out-shot them, and as a team that beat us last year for us to come out and outplay and out-shoot them was very positive for us."
jcmccaff@syr.edu
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