No. 9 Syracuse field hockey clinches ACC tournament spot with 3-1 win over Boston College
By Sydney Chan | @SydneyO_Chan
CitrusTV Field Hockey Beat Reporter
CHESTNUT HILL, M.A. — No. 9 Syracuse field hockey (11-4, 3-4 Atlantic Coast) officially punched its ticket to the ACC Tournament after a 3-1 win over Boston College (5-10, 0-7 Atlantic Coast).
Riding their seventh straight top-10 ranking — the Orange’s longest stretch since 2017 — SU strung together one of its most complete offensive efforts in weeks, fueled by crisp passing, transition play, and steady composure to earn their third conference win. The result marks the Cuse’s 29th all-time victory over BC, the second-most wins against any team in program history.
Ahead of this contest, the Eagles emphasized their press and defensive communication to slow down the Cuse’s attack, and the strategy proved effective in the first quarter. BC’s tight structure frustrated Syracuse’s lateral passing in the opening 15, and both teams mustered just two shots after the first frame. But after the Orange warmed up, they began to find the space they were searching for.
SU freshman Aubrey Turner opened the scoring five minutes into the second quarter. Off a turnover, grad student Bo van Kempen found Turner, who danced through defenders and struck a beautiful reverse shot for her fifth goal of the season.
That generated the momentum Syracuse needed — 30 seconds later, and off another takeaway, grad student Liz Stange found space and sprinted into the Orange’s attacking third. The Cuse moved the ball with precision, ultimately finding senior Lieke Leeggangers, who dove near the right post to finish the sequence.
In the third quarter, Stange extended SU’s lead by storming into the circle and slipping a pass to Lana Hamilton. The senior connected back with Stange, who executed a smooth behind-the-back touch and score.
But the Eagles didn’t go quietly, generating a handful of dangerous looks and netting a goal midway through the final frame. By the final buzzer, the Orange held a narrow 11-10 edge in shots. Shots on goal were tied at 7-7, and each team earned a pair of penalty corners.
Syracuse has played the most one-goal games in the ACC this year, posting a 5-4 record in those contests. Seven of its last eight contests have been decided by a single goal, and all four of its losses this season came to teams that have been or currently are ranked in the top 20. Tonight, the Orange enjoyed a much-needed breather.
With a postseason berth now secured, SU can close the regular season strong and reach a .500 mark in conference play next Saturday at Louisville. Action is set for noon. Follow @SydneyO_Chan on X for game updates.
