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The Daily OrangeWSOC | Ramirez's overtime goal catapults Orange to vital victory over Seton Hall
By Jen McCaffrey
Posted: 10/20/08, 5:03 AM EST Section: Sports
Casey Ramirez stood in front of the Seton Hall goal as the clock ticked away in overtime.
Then, Ramirez's chance came. The ball ricocheted off players from both teams, then landed at her foot. Syracuse's freshman midfielder poked the ball in the back of net and was instantly mobbed by her teammates.
Ramirez's second goal of the season in the 106th minute elevated the Orange to a 2-1 victory over Seton Hall Friday night, its first win in six games. The win over the Pirates (5-9-2, 1-1-1) proved crucial to Syracuse's chances of making the Big East Tournament.
"We needed to feel what its like to win again," senior forward Amanda Arcuri said. "We know we can do it again and go in with some confidence. It's definitely a momentum builder."
The pressure that had built up on the Orange (5-9-2, 2-6-1) during the past six games (it had been outscored 16-1 in that span) was broken when redshirt freshman Kaitlin Robbins scored in the 29th minute of the game to give SU a 1-0 lead. Junior midfielder Chelsea Berry dribbled along the right side and laid the ball off to Robbins, who knocked the ball in the back of the net for her first goal of the season.
"I knew it was crucial, and I knew it had to go in," said Robbins. "I think it turned our team around."
Syracuse had not scored a goal at home since its last win on Sept. 25 against Pittsburgh. Wheddon, who had been standing on the sidelines the whole game, took a moment to sit down after the goal. The Orange seemed to find a comfort level, displaying more confidence and aggressiveness. SU committed 16 total fouls compared to the Pirates' four.
Syracuse once again fell into the habit of missing open opportunities. The Orange kept the ball on the Pirates side a majority of the first half, with nine shots compared to two for Seton Hall.
"When we look back over the season," Wheddon said, "the number of chances we've had over the course of the season is outrageous to the number of goals we've scored. We should have scored a lot more goals."
Then, Ramirez's chance came. The ball ricocheted off players from both teams, then landed at her foot. Syracuse's freshman midfielder poked the ball in the back of net and was instantly mobbed by her teammates.
Ramirez's second goal of the season in the 106th minute elevated the Orange to a 2-1 victory over Seton Hall Friday night, its first win in six games. The win over the Pirates (5-9-2, 1-1-1) proved crucial to Syracuse's chances of making the Big East Tournament.
"We needed to feel what its like to win again," senior forward Amanda Arcuri said. "We know we can do it again and go in with some confidence. It's definitely a momentum builder."
The pressure that had built up on the Orange (5-9-2, 2-6-1) during the past six games (it had been outscored 16-1 in that span) was broken when redshirt freshman Kaitlin Robbins scored in the 29th minute of the game to give SU a 1-0 lead. Junior midfielder Chelsea Berry dribbled along the right side and laid the ball off to Robbins, who knocked the ball in the back of the net for her first goal of the season.
"I knew it was crucial, and I knew it had to go in," said Robbins. "I think it turned our team around."
Syracuse had not scored a goal at home since its last win on Sept. 25 against Pittsburgh. Wheddon, who had been standing on the sidelines the whole game, took a moment to sit down after the goal. The Orange seemed to find a comfort level, displaying more confidence and aggressiveness. SU committed 16 total fouls compared to the Pirates' four.
Syracuse once again fell into the habit of missing open opportunities. The Orange kept the ball on the Pirates side a majority of the first half, with nine shots compared to two for Seton Hall.
"When we look back over the season," Wheddon said, "the number of chances we've had over the course of the season is outrageous to the number of goals we've scored. We should have scored a lot more goals."
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