Syracuse Loses to UConn in Double Overtime

By KJ Vaughn

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Syracuse field hockey team was eliminated from the 2016 NCAA tournament by the University of Connecticut in double overtime by a final of 3-2.

In a game that featured four goals off of penalty corners, it was UConn that would strike first on a shot by Charlotte Veitner off of an assist by Anna Middendorf with 12 minutes left in the first half. A few minutes later ‘Cuse was able to get on the board with Serra Degnan’s shot off of a Lies Lagerweij assist.

The Huskies were able to regain the lead after the clock had already hit zero in the first half because of a penalty corner; Casey Umstead scored off the rebound. UConn would go into the locker room up 2-1.

It would take 30 minutes for ‘Cuse to tie up the game on a Roos Weers shot. UConn was content to play out the rest of regulation safe and force overtime.

In the first overtime, it was ‘Cuse that dominated with a two player advantage for most of the period, racking up five shots. However, SU was unable to crack Nina Klein, who had four saves on the day and none more important than her one save in the first overtime.

With the two teams still unable to break the dead heat, the game would move into a second overtime. It was in this period that Huskie Charlotte Veitner, the all-time leading scorer in UConn’s storied history, made the play of the game. She was able to get free behind the Syracuse defense and, because of a great pass from Amanda Collins that forced Regan Spencer to step up, Veitner was able to score the goal that sent UConn back to the Final Four for the fourth year in a row.

This was a very physical team that featured seven penalty cards. This was the 3^rd year in a row that these two programs have meant in the postseason, the first time that it has been in the 2^nd round.

Serra Degnan powered the Orange with 1 goal, 1 shot on goal, and 1 assist. Charlotte Veitner was the player of the game with 2 goals and 2 shots on goal, including the game winner.

Syracuse wraps up the season with an overall record of 15-4. Each of Syracuse’s losses this season have come in overtime.