Spring Break
The Daily OrangeSU's defense shines with 1st shutout win
By David DeGuzman
Posted: 9/29/09, 2:27 AM EST Section: Sports
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The defensive stand secured Syracuse's 6-0 shutout victory - its first shutout of the season - over Columbia Sunday. The Orange defense completely shut down the Lions for most of the game, not allowing a single penalty corner or a shot until the waning seconds. SU also defeated Providence 2-1 on Saturday.
Despite the shutout, SU field hockey head coach Ange Bradley sees room for improvement.
"That is irritating to me and disappointing," Bradley said.
Bradley, in her third season coaching the Orange (9-1, 2-0), would've liked to see her team dominate more. Yet after a slow first half plagued by rain, Sunday was Syracuse's highest offensive output in a single game this season, scoring five goals in the second half alone. The last time the Orange won by more than a goal was a 5-2 win on Aug. 30 against New Hampshire.
Syracuse played patiently in the sloppy weather as the game progressed, slapping 10 shots at the cage in the first half. Sophomore forward Heather Susek finally ignited the scoring barrage for the Orange, breaking the 0-0 tie with less than six minutes left in the half, following a penalty corner. Susek's shot was taken from the edge of the circle, hitting the left side of the bar at the bottom of the cage. As the rain fell, Susek lept into the air as her teammates gathered in relief.
"Once we scored, we started to open up," junior forward Lindsey Conrad said. "And we were like every two minutes, you want to score a goal. So we scored and then we said okay, let's go back out there and keep attacking."
Conrad was next to score for the Orange, ten minutes into the second half. Three of Sunday's second-half goals were made by Conrad, who recorded her first hat-trick of the season. Syracuse overpowered Columbia offensively, keeping the ball on the Lions' side of the field for most of the second half. The Orange made 26 total shots and drew 14 total penalty corners. The second half alone saw Syracuse make 16 shots and draw nine corners.
The Orange's sixth consecutive victory followed a dominant first-half performance against Providence on Saturday, with SU making 13 shots and scoring two goals before halftime. Those goals were enough for Syracuse to defeat the Friars, 2-1, and remain perfect in Big East play.
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