No. 11 Syracuse field hockey stuns No. 13 Ohio State 2-1 in double-overtime thriller

By Sydney Chan | @SydneyO_Chan

COLUMBUS, O.H. — 60 minutes of regulation. 10 minutes of first overtime “sudden victory” play. Then, with 4:55 left in the double overtime, SU’s Bo van Kempen’s soaring aerial found Hattie Madden, who chipped in a stunning reverse shot to clinch a 2-1 victory.

No. 11 Syracuse field hockey (4-0, 0-0 Atlantic Coast) got revenge on No. 13 Ohio State (2-2, B1G) to retain its perfect record. After a 5-0 loss to the Buckeyes at J.S. Coyne Stadium last season, the Orange stormed onto Ohio State’s turf — where OSU had never beaten them at home — and came out on top. The Cuse now sit at 4-0, its best start since 2022.

This matchup was never going to be easy, with both teams boasting tough defenses and sharp attacks. Syracuse entered this contest averaging a national-best 10 goals per game, while Ohio State tied for second at eight. The firepower carried over to individual players too, with SU’s Bo van Kempen and OSU’s Makenna Webster tied for the NCAA lead at 4.5 goals per game. 

Syracuse put numbers on the board first early in the third, when Aubrey Turner scored off a lift shot. The freshman has found the net in every game so far this season. Buckeyes’ 

Makenna Webster, Riley Hudson, and Katie Fichtner responded with a quick one-two play off an attacking penalty corner, finishing with a goal to close the third quarter. 

The next 25 minutes of play — the last quarter of regulation and the first overtime — were a masterclass in grit. With just six field players and a goalkeeper each, both teams battled end-to-end. The Cuse survived an early Ohio State penalty corner in the first overtime (with just three field players and GK Tane King in cage) before sealing it with the game-winner in the second overtime.

Riding a perfect start, the Orange head to New Jersey for a 5 p.m. showdown Friday against No. 10 Princeton (1-1, 0-0 Ivy).