Orange Record First Win of the Season Against Duke
By Tara Arya
CitrusTV Field Hockey Beat Reporter
VIRGINIA BEACH, V.A. – After several schedule changes this week, the Orange were able to turn their postponed match against Boston College into a thriller versus Duke. This was a game where you couldn’t take your eyes off or you might miss another goal, with both teams playing aggressive offense.
Duke tallied the first goal within five minutes of the game and from there it was a back and forth fight between the Orange and the Blue Devils. Seven minutes later, freshman Florine van Boetzelaer shot one in to tie things up. It looked like it would stay tied up heading into the second quarter, until sophomore Charlotte de Vries got one to go in the last minute, putting Syracuse up 2-1 entering the second quarter.
Duke responded with Hannah Miller scoring her second goal of the game in the 16th minute. Entering the half, Syracuse was outshooting Duke 8-6 and they were just warming up.
The third quarter was dominated by Syracuse’s offense, freshman Florine van Boetzelaer had her second goal of the game to make it 3-2 lead for the Orange, but not for long. With two minutes left in the third quarter, Duke was able to get one past junior goalkeeper Syd Taylor and tie it back up at three. The Orange were an offensive machine, outshooting Duke 7-2.
It would be junior Laura Graziosi who put the game away in the fourth quarter, scoring the fourth goal for the Orange in the 52nd minute. Duke would try to fight back in the final eight minutes and Syracuse left the game with their first win of the season and in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The women were able to get their offense going in this game after a rough start to the season.
They will spend next weekend on the road facing North Carolina on Friday at 4:30 p.m. and Wake Forest Sunday at 12 p.m. and Monday.
taarya@syr.edu I @taraarya98
