A Familiar Fight: No. 10 Syracuse Field Hockey Looks to Repeat 2023 Magic vs. No. 6 Liberty in NCAA First Round

By: Sydney Chan | @SydneyO_Chan

Sixty minutes weren’t enough in 2023.

Back then, Syracuse field hockey and Liberty traded defense stands, fourth-quarter goals, and a frantic final push before SU’s Charlotte de Vries tipped in the overtime winner to send the Cuse to the NCAA Quarterfinals. It was a comeback built on grit. Then-sophomore Lieke Leeggangers tied the game in the 58th minute, and the Orange outshot the Flames 8-2 in the final frame to force extra time.

Two years later, Syracuse is opening the NCAA Tournament against Liberty once again. And for the seniors who lived through that overtime thriller, the return to Princeton to face the Flames feels déjà vu in the best way.

Now a captain, Leeggangers still remembers the intensity of the teams’ last meeting.

“It was competitive. It was a huge fight,” she said. “I loved that game. They came out aggressive and worked really hard, and that against us makes for a very good battle.”

This season, the midfielder leads a team that enters the dance battle-tested after two of its strongest performances of the season. The 10th-ranked Orange’s run at the ACC Tournament as the sixth-seed — first upsetting third-seeded Wake Forest, then taking second-seeded Virginia to double overtime — was a turning point that sealed their NCAA bid. 

“We knew it was our one and only opportunity,” Leeggangers said. “If we didn’t win the first round, our chances were low [to make it to the NCAA Tournament]. We believed in ourselves, and if we followed the game plan, we’d be strong enough to beat anyone.”

Freshman forward Aubrey Turner, who scored twice during the conference championships despite not feeling 100%, said the team arrived in Louisville hungry for revenge after regular-season losses in overtime and in the final seconds to the Demon Deacons and the Cavaliers, respectively.

“We wanted revenge. That’s literally all it was,” Turner said.

Turner said she believes playing in the ACC has prepared her team for everything it will see in the NCAA field.

“In my opinion, the ACC tournament is harder than the NCAA,” she said. “The ACC has the best teams in the nation, period.”

Senior Lana Hamilton, a member of that 2023 SU squad, said the team’s mindset shifted during its conference championship run.

“We came for blood. Nothing else mattered,” Hamilton said.

When Selection Sunday arrived the weekend after the ACC Tournament, Syracuse’s name wasn’t announced until the final quadrant. But once the full bracket was revealed, and Liberty appeared next to SU, excitement took over.

“I was literally jumping up and down,” Turner said. “I’m so happy we’re still in this. We have another opportunity to show who we are as a team and show we can go far.”

The Cuse heads to Princeton for the first two rounds, with the Tigers earning the No. 2 seed after finishing with the second-best RPI in the country following their win over Harvard in the Ivy League Championship. For SU, this location feels familiar. 

“We know the field. We’ve won there. We’ve celebrated there,” Leeggangers added. “It’s definitely a good feeling to go back.”

Syracuse topped Princeton 1-0 in overtime in September and now returns to that same turf for another postseason run. But before even thinking about a potential rematch with the hosts, the Orange must first get through a familiar foe — No. 6 Liberty. The Flames’ trademark intensity stood out to the veterans who faced them two seasons ago. 

“They play with a lot of grit,” Hamilton said. “But I remember us wanting it more.”

Orange head coach Lynn Farquhar said Syracuse respects Liberty’s style but emphasizes its own identity.

“Ultimately, the focus has to be on ourselves and what we can control,” Farquhar said. “Tournament time is about who shows up. We have to be ready and willing to do that at the first opportunity and not assume something else is going to happen. You never know.”

Hamilton pointed to Syracuse’s scoring ability and corner unit as major strengths the Orange need to hone in on.

“Bo [van Kempen] is unstoppable at the top of the circle. Danique [Schuurman] is a person that people underestimate, but when she gets to the top of the circle, she’s going to get something out of it either way,” Hamilton said. “And we have Aubrey, Hattie [Madden], and Liz [Stange] — people who can get the ball up the field and make opportunities for the team. Every line of our field is lined up with people who are able to make outcomes for us.”

There’s also a unique off-field wrinkle in this matchup: Liberty assistant coach Reagan Underwood is the twin sister of Syracuse director of operations Brynn Underwood, adding a personal layer to an already familiar meeting.

For Leeggangers, her final NCAA run adds an extra layer of urgency. 

“This is my last one,” she said. “I believe this is the year we can bring home the natty.”

Syracuse and Liberty meet in Princeton on Friday at 2:30pm. Follow @SydneyO_Chan on X for live-updates!