Field Hockey Defeats Bucknell 5-0 in Home Opener

By Jonah Karp

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (CitrusTV) — The Orange began the season sweeping a three game road stretch in California, and the team carried its momentum back to J.S. Coyne Stadium on Saturday, as Syracuse took down Bucknell 5-0.

Early in the game, the Bison kept pace with the Orange as both teams remained scoreless through the first eleven minutes. But junior forward Jennifer Bleakney broke the ice with a shot in front of the net to give SU the 1-0 advantage 11:42 into the game.

That score held for 17 minutes until senior forward Caroline Cady connected for her first goal of the season to put the Orange up 2-0. That score would hold until the half.

After the break, Syracuse would not be stopped. Just six minutes into the second half, senior Laura Hurff found freshman forward Carolin Hoffmann for the score to give the Orange a 3-0 lead.

The goal was Hoffmann’s fourth of the season. She credited the fast start to her commitment in practice.

“To help us play our game, we can practice and weigh different situations, and that also prepares us for other games,” she said.

For a stretch of time, both teams went quiet offensively, until Hurff tacked on some insurance on a low shot with ten minutes remaining.

With the Orange already in clear command of the game, junior forward Emma Tufts put the finishing touches on the Bison, scoring with less than seven minutes left to make it 5-0.

The five goals in this game, scored by five different players, were the most for the Orange this season. Syracuse has dominated its opponents so far this season, outscoring them 13-0.

Junior back Roos Weers caused a minor scare for Orange fans when she exited the game midway through the first half after her right hand hit the ball. Weers remained out until the start of the second, but insisted that there is no cause for further concern.

Though it would appear that SU is firing on all cylinders, head coach Ange Bradley suggested that there is still room for improvement.

“We just have to keep playing Syracuse hockey and keep working on that and becoming better,” she said.

Bradley is, however, enjoying the recent string of success, and is especially pleased with the development of a passing offense.

“I’m happy with the result,” she said. “But I’m more enjoying the process of the connections and the passing and the five different people scoring.”

Coach Bradley’s squad looks to continue its dominance when it hosts Ohio on Sunday at 2 p.m.