No. 6 Syracuse field hockey tops No. 7 Duke 1-0 for first ACC win, honors 2015 FH national champions

It was a night of celebration, and No. Syracuse field hockey made the most of it, securing its first ACC win of the season and topping No. 7 Duke 1-0. The 2015 SU program was the first women’s program to secure a national title at Syracuse, and former captain Alyssa Manley’s jersey was retired. Current captain Lieke Leeggangers admires Manley’s leadership and was proud of her team’s efforts today.

“We were hungry for a win. We really wanted to work hard. We said we’re the hardest working team on Coyne. We focused on what the score was and how many minutes we had. We played together, we communicated, and most importantly, we stayed calm and worked as a team,” Leeggangers said. “As a captain, everyone brings something to the team. That’s what I want to do as a captain, as [Manley] did as well.”

After two heartbreaking ACC losses last weekend, head coach Lynn Farquhar highlighted the importance of adjusting to tempo shifts. And after a long week of practice, the Orange did just that.

“There was a difference today in the energy in the fourth quarter where the team decided, ‘The tempo’s going back and forth, but we’re going to own it,’” Farquhar said. “We didn’t just defend, but our defenders were our first line of attack. And then I’d say the opposite — our forward line had some opportunities. Of course, you always want to score more than one; we were at the door, so execution was a component. However, their press was outstanding, and we worked. You could see we rotated on and off the field, so I think from all layers, we played for each other today.”

The 2015 Syracuse field hockey team will forever be engrained in SU’s history, and the current squad looks to keep chasing history, as it hosts No. 20 Penn State on Sunday. The game is set for noon. Reporting from J.S. Coyne Stadium, Sydney Chan, CitrusTV Sports.