Syracuse field hockey suffers first defeat in OT loss to No. 20 Wake Forest

The No. 4 ranked Syracuse field hockey team opened ACC play with a 2-1 overtime loss to No. 20 Wake Forest at  J.S. Coyne Stadium.

It was the Orange’s first defeat of the season. 

“Not the way we wanted to start off [in ACC play] at home,” Syracuse field hockey head coach Lynn Farquhar said. “We’ll soak it in, then back tomorrow for a new day.” 

The first half was evenly played, with both teams trading penalty corners and scoring chances to take the early lead, but neither Wake or the ‘Cuse could capitalize.

Syracuse finally broke through in the third quarter when graduate defender Bo van Kempen scored her 15th goal through seven games of the season.

The lead did not last long, as Wake Forest tied the game after Syracuse received a green card and was forced to play down a player. Mia Schoenbeck capitalized to even the score.

The Demon Deacons controlled the fourth quarter, outshooting Syracuse 6-0. In regulation, they held a 13-5 edge in shots, ultimately making the difference. 

“It’s about growth,” Farquhar said about how the team can improve the shot margins as the season progresses. “We have to be better in the twenty-fives.”

In overtime, Wake Forest outshot Syracuse 2-0 and converted on its second consecutive penalty corner. Lauren Storey fired the game-winner into the back of the cage to seal the upset. 

Though the stats make this matchup a lot more skewed, Syracuse was back and forth in the possession battle all evening, dominating the entirety of the third quarter.

This matchup was the first of many battles Syracuse will face against ranked ACC opponents,  with the ability to compete for the title. 

The Orange proved themselves earlier in the year with ranked wins over Rutgers, Ohio State, and Princeton, and know they can bounce back from the defeat.

“There’s only a few teams that go undefeated all season,” Farquhar said. 

To honor Military Appreciation night, members of the armed forces programs at Syracuse University were honored during the halftime ceremony, and shirts were passed out at the entrance to the J.S. Coyne Stadium. 

Now that the unbeaten dream is out of the question for the Orange, they start to look ahead to the future conference matchups.

“We have to be able to compete our strongest”, Farquhar said about what she needs to see from her squad in their next matches. “We have the people to do so”.

The ‘Cuse play No. 3 Virginia Cavaliers, a game that could put Syracuse right back on track with a victory.

That matchup against UVA is Youth Team & Otto’s Kids Club Day, at noon Sunday, Sept. 21 at  J.S. Coyne Stadium.