No. 4 Syracuse field hockey tops No. 7 Louisville in overtime

The No.4 Syracuse Orange Field Hockey team defeated the No. 7 Louisville Cardinals, 2-1, on Saturday afternoon at J.S. Coyne Stadium. The game marked the smallest offensive output by both teams on the season.

There were plenty of scoring chances throughout the match, but the SU defense, led by senior goalie Regan Spencer, was sharp. Spencer made three key saves off of Louisville penalty corners in the contest.

Photo: Gabriela Garcia

The Cardinal (9-2, 1-2 ACC) defense was equally as impressive. Sophomore goalie Ayeisha McFerran led the charge, making multiple diving saves.

The first diving save was made with 15:20 left in the first half after Syracuse’s Elaine Carey made a left-to-right deke and then shot what looked to be a sure goal. The second came shortly after on a Syracuse breakaway when junior Laura Hurff made a double move that fooled the Cardinals defenders. Hurff passed it into the middle to Carey, who yet again had a scoring opportunity robbed by McFerran.

It appeared as if neither team would score before the half ended, but Louisville freshman forward Minout Mink got in close and hit a shot that slipped behind Spencer, putting the Cardinals up 1-0 with 15 seconds remaining in the first half.

Fifteen minutes into the second half, it appeared as if the Cardinals had gained a two-goal advantage. After a penalty by the Orange, Louisville senior Erin McCrudden passed the ball in on an insertion that gave her team great positioning. The ball was popped up, shot, and then scored, or so the Cardinals thought. The goal was waved off due to a high stick, so play resumed with the score still 1-0.

Shortly after the high stick for the Cardinals, Syracuse's Elaine Carey bounced the ball twice on her stick while weaving through traffic, wound up, and scored on a laser shot with 18 minutes remaining in the second half.

Carey received a two minute penalty shortly after, but the Cardinals could not capitalize on the man-advantage opportunity.          

It was more of the same for the remainder of regulation, with one insertion by the Cardinals that was blocked by a Syracuse defender, and an insertion by the Orange, which McFerran made another diving save on, keeping the score tied at the end of regulation.

Louisville seemed to be dominating the first five minutes of the 15 minute sudden-death overtime period, until McFerran was called for pushing. Syracuse junior Lies Lagerweij was given a stroke opportunity after the foul call and capitalized on the penalty shot by burying it into the top left corner of the net. The Orange rushed the field to greet the fist-pumping Lagerweij after the victory.