No. 11 Syracuse suffers first ACC loss to 3rd-ranked Wake Forest

By Josh Rothert | @joshrothert 

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Just less than 48 hours after picking up its first ranked win of the season, number 11 Syracuse field hockey (6-2, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) hoped to do it again on Sunday.

The Orange were outmatched from the get-go and dropped the contest 4-2 to 3rd-ranked Wake Forest (6-3, 1-1 ACC).

Syracuse struggled with containment starting in the first quarter. A breakaway led to a wide-open scoring lane for Demon Deacons forward Bianca Rees-Gibbs, who slapped the ball towards the net, as it clipped Orange netminder Jessie Eiselin, who staggered forward before finding the netting.

Wake Forest continued the barrage in the quarter. Rees-Gibbs slotted another one on the far side past a diving Jessie Eiselin on a penalty corner later in the quarter to give Wake a 2-goal cushion after the first.

SU responded on the penalty corner in the second. Orange forward Aubrey Turner inserted to sophomore Elisa Carvajal, who struck one near goal, before Turner swooped in and tapped home SU’s first score of the game.

Wake Forest continued to apply pressure. The Deacs led the way in the APC department with a 10-2 advantage.

The Demon Deacons powered back to a two-goal lead late in the third off a penalty corner. WF senior Ava Moore sent a low ball through the SU back line and past Eiselin to add another goal.

Syracuse had the answer once again. Orange back Jess Liddell sniped a flick in the final seconds of the third for the game’s fourth combined APC goal.

The Orange went the entirety of the fourth quarter without a shot attempt. On a breakout play with a few minutes to play, WF forward Sarah Mudd stole the ball right in front of the SU net and slapped one home to give Wake Forest the clincher.

Eiselin stopped five shots on nine attempts. Wake goalie Ruby Butterfield made two saves on four shots.

Syracuse plays Duke next on Friday at 3 in Durham. Live updates can be found on X @joshrothert.