Strong First Half Helps Syracuse Defeat Towson 3-2

By Ben Spector

CitrusTV’s Field Hockey Beat Reporter

Coming off of a win against Saint Joseph’s last week, Syracuse traveled to Towson to play its second game of the Spring season. SU (2-0, 0-0 ACC) took down the Tigers (0-1, 0-0 CAA) 3-2 earlier today. Emily Streib started in net for the Orange, and she made one save on three shots. On Towson’s side, goalie Lena Vandam was a lot more active and made 12 saves. 

It was truly a tale of two halves in this one. Syracuse jumped out to an early 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Pleun Lammers and Carly Bothoff. These two goals came almost a minute apart just 4 minutes into the first quarter. Lammers’ goal came off a corner in the middle of a scramble. It marks her first of the season. Bothoff, on the other hand, scored her first of the Spring but her third goal including the Fall season. 

However, Syracuse’s lead did not last long. Towson went on transition late in the first quarter, and Kathryn Parkinson shot it in the back of the net off a nice feed from the right side. Parkinson’s first goal of the Spring made it 2-1 at the end of the first quarter.

The offense didn’t stop there for Towson. Jenna Florenzo scored and the goal looked eerily similar to the first one. A pass from Paige Reese to Florenzo’s stick helped the Tigers make it a tie game. The tie didn’t last long though as Chiara Gutsche put Syracuse back in front. Gutsche’s goal marks her third of the Spring and it was the goal that won SU the game.

The second half offered many opportunities for both sides, but no goals to show for it. Towson and Syracuse each defended the corner well, and that eventually led to Syracuse’s second victory of the Spring.

Syracuse gets the week off and next play on March 27th against Duke. 

bespecto@syr.edu | @bespector