The Daily OrangeRicken's lucky shoes propel Syracuse to win over Colgate
By David F. Baer
Posted: 9/12/09, 2:25 AM EST Section: Sports
HAMILTON, N.Y. - Despite hobbling around the Syracuse sidelines on crutches after undergoing season-ending knee surgery Thursday, Megan Bellingham still found a way to get her foot on the winning goal in the Orange's 1-0 victory over Colgate Friday night.
Actually, her shoes did the dirty work.
Freshman Jenna Ricken, who needed to switch into Bellingham's cleats right before the game, redirected Rosina Callisto's shot for a goal in the 61st minute to seal the win.
"It really does feel good to get some of those breaks," head coach Phil Wheddon said. "I mean, last year we didn't get any of those breaks. We lost these games, 1-0, last year against different opposition. Rosie strikes a great ball, and luckily Jenna stuck out her toe.
"I think it was because she was wearing Megan's shoes that it went in the goal," he added with a smile and a laugh.
Syracuse (3-2-1) won its third consecutive game for the first time since opening the 2004 season 3-0. The Orange has won each of its last three games by a score of 1-0 and seems to be hitting its stride.
After the offense did its job and put Syracuse on the scoreboard, the game fell back into the hands of the defense. For the third straight game, it preserved a shutout, even if this one came with an extra dosage of drama.
With just over three minutes remaining in Friday night's game, the Orange was doing everything it could to give Colgate a shot at stealing a win.
Even Wheddon could be heard on the sidelines saying that his team was "finding a way to make it interesting."
With time running out, the Raiders' offense made one final attempt at tying the score. Though Wheddon may not have enjoyed the drama, freshman Patricia Lind found a way to put a positive spin on it.
"I was just thinking, 'Not again, I don't want to tie. No, get it out,'" she said. "I think that it's good sometimes to have that pressure so we learn from each other and so we don't crack under pressure. We stuck together even though there was pressure."
Actually, her shoes did the dirty work.
Freshman Jenna Ricken, who needed to switch into Bellingham's cleats right before the game, redirected Rosina Callisto's shot for a goal in the 61st minute to seal the win.
"It really does feel good to get some of those breaks," head coach Phil Wheddon said. "I mean, last year we didn't get any of those breaks. We lost these games, 1-0, last year against different opposition. Rosie strikes a great ball, and luckily Jenna stuck out her toe.
"I think it was because she was wearing Megan's shoes that it went in the goal," he added with a smile and a laugh.
Syracuse (3-2-1) won its third consecutive game for the first time since opening the 2004 season 3-0. The Orange has won each of its last three games by a score of 1-0 and seems to be hitting its stride.
After the offense did its job and put Syracuse on the scoreboard, the game fell back into the hands of the defense. For the third straight game, it preserved a shutout, even if this one came with an extra dosage of drama.
With just over three minutes remaining in Friday night's game, the Orange was doing everything it could to give Colgate a shot at stealing a win.
Even Wheddon could be heard on the sidelines saying that his team was "finding a way to make it interesting."
With time running out, the Raiders' offense made one final attempt at tying the score. Though Wheddon may not have enjoyed the drama, freshman Patricia Lind found a way to put a positive spin on it.
"I was just thinking, 'Not again, I don't want to tie. No, get it out,'" she said. "I think that it's good sometimes to have that pressure so we learn from each other and so we don't crack under pressure. We stuck together even though there was pressure."
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