Spring Break
The Daily OrangeWSOC | SU records fouth straight shutout
By Jen McCaffrey
Posted: 9/25/08, 11:16 PM EST Section: Sports
It was a typical day as of late for Syracuse women's soccer. A shut out, another record and win at home.
The Orange recorded its first Big East win in shutout fashion Thursday night with a 1-0 victory against Big East foe Pittsburgh (3-7). It was the team's fourth straight shutout, a feat Syracuse had not accomplished since its first season in 1996.
Junior goalkeeper Eliza Bennett-Hattan tallied her fourth shutout this season and the 16th of her career. She recorded six saves Thursday against the Panthers.
"Eliza was fantastic," said SU head coach Phil Wheddon. "She not only made the saves she needed to make but she made some big ones, breakaways where she came forward and picked off were fantastic."
Play like that from Bennett-Hattan and Syracuse has been common of late. The last goal allowed by the Orange came Sept. 7 in a loss at Niagara.
Bennett-Hattan has been the constant. In an Orange lineup that rotates players in and out frequently, the junior is SU's stalwart at the back.
"If we can just keep our composure and keeping playing like we can play, we'll be great," said Bennett-Hattan.
Freshman Taylor Chamberlain tallied the game's only goal in the 73rd minute of the final game of SU's four-game homestand.
The stretch has proved to be a needed boost. Prior to the first of the four home games on Sept. 14 against Colgate, the Orange possessed a record of 1-3-1. Eleven days later, it improved that record to 4-3-2.
Then again, it's not hard to win when a team is shutting opponents out.
"It's great that we're on a roll," Bennett-Hattan, "but we need to come out every game with the same intensity."
The home games can't last forever. The Orange will begin a three-game road trip this weekend as the team travels to No. 11 West Virginia. Wheddon expects this road trip to be the biggest challenge for the team so far but hopes to bring the momentum from the homestand to West Virginia on Sunday.
Another shutout would be nice, too.
"Not having lost at home yet is awesome," Wheddon said. "The players have more intensity on this field that they need to match now on the road."
jcmccaff@syr.edu
The Orange recorded its first Big East win in shutout fashion Thursday night with a 1-0 victory against Big East foe Pittsburgh (3-7). It was the team's fourth straight shutout, a feat Syracuse had not accomplished since its first season in 1996.
Junior goalkeeper Eliza Bennett-Hattan tallied her fourth shutout this season and the 16th of her career. She recorded six saves Thursday against the Panthers.
"Eliza was fantastic," said SU head coach Phil Wheddon. "She not only made the saves she needed to make but she made some big ones, breakaways where she came forward and picked off were fantastic."
Play like that from Bennett-Hattan and Syracuse has been common of late. The last goal allowed by the Orange came Sept. 7 in a loss at Niagara.
Bennett-Hattan has been the constant. In an Orange lineup that rotates players in and out frequently, the junior is SU's stalwart at the back.
"If we can just keep our composure and keeping playing like we can play, we'll be great," said Bennett-Hattan.
Freshman Taylor Chamberlain tallied the game's only goal in the 73rd minute of the final game of SU's four-game homestand.
The stretch has proved to be a needed boost. Prior to the first of the four home games on Sept. 14 against Colgate, the Orange possessed a record of 1-3-1. Eleven days later, it improved that record to 4-3-2.
Then again, it's not hard to win when a team is shutting opponents out.
"It's great that we're on a roll," Bennett-Hattan, "but we need to come out every game with the same intensity."
The home games can't last forever. The Orange will begin a three-game road trip this weekend as the team travels to No. 11 West Virginia. Wheddon expects this road trip to be the biggest challenge for the team so far but hopes to bring the momentum from the homestand to West Virginia on Sunday.
Another shutout would be nice, too.
"Not having lost at home yet is awesome," Wheddon said. "The players have more intensity on this field that they need to match now on the road."
jcmccaff@syr.edu
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