Field Hockey Loses a Heartbreaker in Double Overtime to Virginia

By Tara Arya

CitrusTV Field Hockey Beat Reporter

CHARLOTTESVILLE, V.A. – After Friday’s loss to Virginia, Syracuse had one game under their belt and went back to the drawing board for Sunday’s rematch. Early on, it looked like the same story: Virginia was up two halfway through the second quarter and had only one shot to Virginia’s seven.

Entering the half, Senior Carolin Hoffman tried to cut the deficit to one, but shot the ball just over the net. Although a miss, it would end up being the shift in momentum the Orange needed.

Onto the second half. At nearly 35 minutes into the game Junior SJ Quigley scores the first goal of the season for the Orange and cuts UVA’s lead down to one. Later in the fourth, Freshman Florine van Boetzelaer added another goal on an assist from SJ Quigley for the first of her career and equalized the game with ten minutes left. Junior Goalkeeper Syd Taylor had a great game, with arguably her biggest play at the end of the fourth quarter, denying UVA from going on top.

Then it was onto the first overtime of the season. Both teams tried to come out on top and it was UVA who looked like they scored with just over three minutes left in overtime. After official review, however, it was a no goal and the game was still up for grabs. Syd Taylor had another big save, stopping Virginia’s Makayla Gallen from a game winner.

After 70 minutes of play, it was still tied up and entering double overtime. Then at the 76 minute mark UVA’s Amber Ezechiels scored her second goal of the game to send the Orange home with a loss.

On paper, the Orange suffered a loss, but it was a huge improvement from their play on Friday. Scoring two goals on a top tier Virginia defense and just shy of an upset in overtime. The Syracuse women look to bounce back when they play Boston College Saturday at noon in their home opener.

taarya@syr.edu I @taraarya98