SU field hockey wins first ACC championship

For the first time in Syracuse University history, the Orange field hockey are ACC champions. Syracuse defeated Boston College in a shootout to capture their first ACC tournament championship.

The fourth-seeded Orange and sixth-seeded Eagles battled through 90 minutes of scoreless play before Syracuse secured the 2-0 win in a nail-biting shootout victory. The teams finished regulation and overtime tied, 0-0, before the Orange found the back of the net in two of their three shootout attempts.

Syracuse entered the game looking for redemption after suffering a 3-1 loss to Boston College in its regular season finale Oct. 30 at J.S. Coyne Stadium. The Eagles scored three unanswered goals before second-year forward Fieve Frenken scored Syracuse’s lone goal late in the fourth quarter. 

Within the last minutes of the first quarter Syracuse drew a penalty corner against Boston. After the inserter reloaded the ball, an Eagles player obstructed a Syracuse player, resulting in another penalty corner for the Orange.

Second-year forward Taylor Bigbie tried to redirect the shot near the post, but the Boston College goalkeeper blocked the attempt.

The first quarter remained a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading possession and creating scoring opportunities.

Entering the second quarter, continuing the offensive momentum, Syracuse received another penalty corner within the first five minutes. 

The Eagles defense was able to hold off the Orange as the shot from the top of the circles sailed wide of the net.

Each team leaving everything out on the field continued to shift momentum back and forth, ending the first half scoreless.  

The intensity carried into the third quarter, with both teams looking for opportunities to break the scoreless tie. Neither side managed to gain a clear advantage, as Syracuse and Boston continued to match each other’s defensive pressure.

Late in play, Syracuse received another penalty corner; a derelict shot from first-year defender Jess Liddell was blocked by the defense. But the corner continued; the Orange, almost desperate to get on the board first continued to happen to the Eagles defense until the play was whistled dead.

Despite the relentless offensive effort from the Orange, Boston was not going down without a fight, coming out into the fourth quarter with a breakaway down the center of the field. 

They fired a shot on goal at the top of the circle, but fourth-year goalkeeper Jessie Eiselin deflected it away. 

But the pressure continued from the Eagles, earning a penalty corner. 

After Eiselin deflected the initial shot, the Orange maintained defensive pressure until Boston College’s penalty corner came to an end.

Regulation play came to an end with neither team able to get on the board.

Eiselin anchored Syracuse’s defense throughout the game, recording two saves and keeping the Eagles off the scoreboard across 90 minutes.

Overtime remained scoreless as both teams traded possession and fought to create a game-winning opportunity, but neither could break through defensively.

So with the championship title on the line, they entered shootouts. 

Eiselin set the tone early, stopping Boston’s first attempt to keep the Eagles off the scoreboard. The Orange had an opportunity to take the lead, and they delivered with second-year midfielder Sammie Goin getting Syracuse on the board first.

Bigbie gave Syracuse the breakthrough, converting the team’s second attempt to put the Orange ahead. Eiselin held her ground in goal, turning away the final attempt, granting Syracuse the win.

Celebrating their historic win, Syracuse now turns its attention to the NCAA tournament. The Orange will carry the momentum of their historic conference championship into the national postseason, looking to continue their championship run and compete for another NCAA title.