Syracuse Outplayed by Boston College, Fall to 1-3 in the ACC
By Patrick Gunn
CitrusTV Field Hockey Beat Reporter
NEWTON, Mass. – Syracuse Field Hockey had been dominant in its midfield passing game, but recently, the Orange have lost that edge.
This was the case against the Eagles as No.15 Syracuse (8-5, 1-3 Atlantic Coast) lost 2-1 to No. 13 Boston College (9-5, 3-1 ACC). Margo Carlin scored two goals for BC, her second coming with three minutes and 55 seconds left to ice a dominant passing performance for the Eagles.
The key to this game was the tempo. Boston College slowed down the game on the offensive end, finding good look after good look. In the second quarter, the Eagles missed three wide open goals with two shots off the post and one wide. One shot was so close, the referees had to review the play just to ensure that BC didn’t score.
The game was scoreless at the half, but Boston College didn’t miss in the second half, thanks to their star. Carlin scored her 16th and 17th goals in her freshman season to put the Eagles passed Syracuse.
Claire Cooke scored the lone goal for SU at the end of the third period. She dived stick first right in front of the net to tie the game going into the final frame. This goal halted BC goalkeeper Sarah Dwyer’s four-game shutout streak.
There was not much to talk about offensively for the Orange aside from that goal. Every pass was either rushed or a bit wide of its target, unlike the Eagle’s passing game.
Boston College did a great job defending Charlotte de Vries, sending multiple double-teams inside the circle and forcing her to play the ball at the edge of the circle. She was held to just two shots, her third goalless game of the season.
BC made the little plays all game that won them a crucial third ACC game of the season. Syracuse left the field with more questions than answers.
The Orange will have to tighten up their passing quickly as Syracuse faces No. 3 Connecticut on Sunday at one.
pagunn@syr.edu | @patgunner_
