Spring Break
The Daily OrangeSU field hockey expecting tough test from 7 Providence seniors on home field
By David DeGuzman
Posted: 11/5/09, 8:53 PM EST Section: Sports
To the Syracuse field hockey team, Providence is starving. The Orange knows that the only thing that will satisfy the Friars' hunger is defeating the Orange at its home field, the field that will be hosting this weekend's Big East tournament.
"It's their field, they are going to want to win it," Syracuse senior forward Tracy Deitrick said. "We have beat them before, and it's a repeat from last year's (Big East semifinal). We played them in the first round last year, and they are going to want to beat us."
The Orange (16-2, 6-0 Big East) faces Providence in the Big East tournament semifinals Saturday. Should it win, Syracuse will face either Louisville or Connecticut in the championship with a chance to win back-to-back conference titles. Syracuse won an undisputed Big East regular season title this past Saturday.
Providence is SU's third-most familiar opponent in program history. Of the 28 games between the two teams, the Orange has won 18 of the contests, including its last three meetings.
Though the Orange are 7-2-2 all-time against the Friars in Providence, head coach Ange Bradley knows that Syracuse could head home on Saturday night if it loses in the semifinals to the Friars. When the two teams last met on Sept. 26, the Orange played a strong first half, scoring both of its goals and outshooting Providence, 13-2. But the Friars cut the lead in half less than 10 minutes after halftime and outshot the Orange, 5-3.
Though Syracuse came away with the 2-1 win, Bradley said that her team needs to "step up to the plate."
"Well, you just have to play," Bradley said. "You have to play every minute, every opportunity you have you have to take so for us. We have to prepare for a dogfight and adversity."
Bradley said that Providence will likely challenge Syracuse's corner defense and will counterattack the Orange offense, which has produced 61 goals and 357 shots during the team's 18-game regular season. In comparison, SU's opponents have scored 23 goals and made 152 shots at the cage this season.
"It's their field, they are going to want to win it," Syracuse senior forward Tracy Deitrick said. "We have beat them before, and it's a repeat from last year's (Big East semifinal). We played them in the first round last year, and they are going to want to beat us."
The Orange (16-2, 6-0 Big East) faces Providence in the Big East tournament semifinals Saturday. Should it win, Syracuse will face either Louisville or Connecticut in the championship with a chance to win back-to-back conference titles. Syracuse won an undisputed Big East regular season title this past Saturday.
Providence is SU's third-most familiar opponent in program history. Of the 28 games between the two teams, the Orange has won 18 of the contests, including its last three meetings.
Though the Orange are 7-2-2 all-time against the Friars in Providence, head coach Ange Bradley knows that Syracuse could head home on Saturday night if it loses in the semifinals to the Friars. When the two teams last met on Sept. 26, the Orange played a strong first half, scoring both of its goals and outshooting Providence, 13-2. But the Friars cut the lead in half less than 10 minutes after halftime and outshot the Orange, 5-3.
Though Syracuse came away with the 2-1 win, Bradley said that her team needs to "step up to the plate."
"Well, you just have to play," Bradley said. "You have to play every minute, every opportunity you have you have to take so for us. We have to prepare for a dogfight and adversity."
Bradley said that Providence will likely challenge Syracuse's corner defense and will counterattack the Orange offense, which has produced 61 goals and 357 shots during the team's 18-game regular season. In comparison, SU's opponents have scored 23 goals and made 152 shots at the cage this season.
Be the first to comment on this story