No. 11 Syracuse field hockey silences No. 16 Rutgers, 2-0
By Sydney Chan | @SydneyO_Chan
COLUMBUS, O.H. — With 5:45 remaining in the fourth quarter of Friday’s game between No. 11 Syracuse field hockey (3-0, 0-0 Atlantic Coast) and No. 16 Rutgers (2-1, 0-0 B1G), the Scarlet Knights pulled goalkeeper Emily Nicholls for midfielder Ashley Arnold. In attempts to apply any sort of pressure on the Orange’s ironclad defense, Rutgers went on with 11 field players for the rest of the matchup. But it wasn’t enough.
SU’s 2-0 win in its opening game of this weekend’s ACC/B1G Challenge is its third straight, marking the team’s best start under head coach Lynn Farquhar since her first season in 2023.
Right from the opening whistle, the Scarlet Knights struggled against an Orange squad that was sharper and faster. SU set the tone early: grad student Bo van Kempen scored less than five minutes into the contest with a beautiful drag flick off the attacking penalty corner. Early in the second quarter, freshman Aubrey Turner scored her third collegiate goal, tightly dribbling the ball before firing an uncontested shot. Today’s performance delivered the balance Coach Farqahar had wanted after opening weekend — staying disciplined in passing while adding smart off-ball movement.
The Cuse’s defense was also dominant and sustained its shape throughout the game. SU denied Rutgers any chance to settle into a rhythm, locking down the middle of the field and cutting off passing lanes. The Scarlet Knights struggled to find scoring opportunities and registered no shots on goal.
It was almost like a moat, the broadcasters noted. Syracuse sharply limited Rutgers’ chances to play in the space between the 23-meter line and the top of the striking circle. And when the Scarlet Knights did manage to enter the Orange’s circle, they couldn’t maintain possession. The ball was almost immediately turned over or cleared by SU’s defense.
The Cuse carries its momentum into a top-15 matchup against challenge host No. 13 Ohio State (2-0, 0-0 ACC). Play is slated for 2.
