No. 12 SU field hockey’s perfect season ends in shootout loss to No. 20 Rutgers
By Josh Rothert
12th-ranked Syracuse field hockey (3-1, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) finally met its match on Sunday, falling in a penalty shootout to number 20 Rutgers (2-2, 0-0 Big Ten Conference) 2-1 (4-1).
The game started with a breakout feed. Less than three minutes in, Orange midfielder Bo Madden lost possession of the ball near the mid line, reclaimed hold and whipped a pass twenty yards down field. SU forward Taylor Bigbie controlled the ball, raced into her attacking zone, and after a swift dodge into the circle, spun and whistled an immaculate backhand that carromed off the far post and into the net.
SU kept pace throughout the remainder of the quarter and its back line made showcased promise early in the game. Orange goalkeeper Jessie Eiselin stopped three shots in the opening frame.
Chances dwindled in a second quarter that saw just five total shots and only one on target.
Rutgers clawed its way back in the third quarter, and nearly netted the equalizer when forward Olivia Fraticelli smashed one out of mid air and past Eiselin.
However, upon review, officials stripped Rutgers of the goal, keeping Syracuse ahead by a goal.
In the fourth, Fraticelli was handed another chance. On a rush towards the circle, she dodged three SU defenders and buried the equalizer. The score gave Fraticelli her fifth goal of the season, good enough to lead the Big Ten in scoring thus far.
A crucial stoppage came late in the fourth. With under a minute to play, Taylor Bigbie was flagged for a challenge and assessed a 10-minute yellow card.
With SU playing a player down for the final minute of the quarter, Rutgers landed two penalty corners but were not able to convert in the waning seconds.
In the sudden death overtime, pressure continued from the Scarlet Knights. Eiselin picked up her eighth save, one shy of her best mark as an Orange goalkeeper. More importantly, SU kept Rutgers off the scoreboard, despite playing for over nine minutes with a disadvantage.
Syracuse nearly found the game winner in the final minute of overtime. SU captain Hattie Madden was left unattended in the circle momentarily and rifled a screamer that sailed just wide of the net.
With the score still deadlocked at one after the overtime period, the two sides headed to a penalty stroke shootout.
RU converted on strokes from all four takers: Anna Cogdell, Talia Schenck, Fraticelli, and Martha Goodridge, the latter of which buried the stroke to seal the deal.
Equally as impressive was Rutgers keeper Emily Nicholls who saved two of three Syracuse penalty strokes to take the pressure away from the RU takers.
Syracuse (3-1) looks to bounce back next week against Bucknell. SU travels to Lewisburg for a Sunday tilt at noon. Live coverage of the game can be found on X @joshrothert and @CitrusTVSports.
