The No. 6 Syracuse Orange field hockey team extended its winning streak to five games against with a 2–1 victory over the No. 7 UMass on Friday. In their first game at home this season, the Orange also improved their home winning streak to 37 games.
Junior forward Lauren Brooks [10] scored the first goal of the game on an assist from sophomore Alyssa Manley at the 3:20 mark. Five games into the season Brooks is leading the team in goals (7) and points (14).
Five minutes later, UMass forward Lindsay Bowman assisted Molly MacDonnell to tie the game.
The two teams went into the half with a 1–1 stalemate. The Orange attack was blatantly less trigger-happy than they had been in the first five games. In the season opener against Quinnipiac, the Orange shot the ball 33 times; 21 times against Hofstra, 13 times against Michigan State and 24 times against Kent State. But against UMass, the Orange only attempted seven shots.
At the 44:53 mark, senior midfielder Leonie Geyer [11] scored the go–ahead goal on an assist from junior midfielder Jordan Page [12] and sophomore forward Emma Russell [13].
Sophomore goalkeeper Jess Jecko [14] and the rest of the Orange defense were able to hold off the Minutemen for the remaining 25 minutes of the game. The Minutemen had two shots on goal.
The Orange will face the Ohio State University Buckeyes on Sunday, September 13, at 2 p.m. at J.S. Coyne Stadium. The game will be on Time Warner Cable Sports Channel, Orange All Access, and on WatchESPN after the OSU and UMass game.
