Late Cavaliers goal hands Syracuse field hockey 2-1 loss

Syracuse field hockey fell short once again to a top-ranked ACC opponent Sunday afternoon, losing 2-1 to the University of Virginia at J.S. Coyne Stadium. 

The defeat comes just two days after the Orange dropped a 1-0 decision to Wake Forest, marking the team’s second consecutive conference loss. 

The Orange, ranked No. 4 nationally entering the weekend, now sit at 6-2 overall and 0-2 in ACC play. 

Despite the outcome, head coach Lynn Farquhar expressed optimism about her squad’s development, especially given the 17 newcomers who are adjusting to the fast pace of ACC competition.

“It’s incredible what these guys are doing and you have to feel it,” Farquhar said. “When you have a lot of returners, they know what ACC field hockey feels like. Most of our team doesn’t know that, so the only way you learn it is by experiencing it.” 

Syracuse opened the game with energy, putting pressure on Virginia’s back line early.

In the first quarter, the Orange outshot the Cavaliers 5-0, testing UVA goalkeeper Nilou Lempers with four shots on goal. Lempers came up big with three saves, but Syracuse eventually broke through. 

Senior forward Pati Strunk scored off an assist from graduate defender Danique Schuurman to give the Orange a 1-0 lead. 

The Orange defense held the Cavaliers without a shot on goal in the first half. After halftime, momentum changed for the Cavaliers.

Virginia, ranked No. 3, showcased why it is one of the most balanced teams in the ACC. The Cavaliers dominated possession in the second half and outshot Syracuse 10-5.

The equalizer for UVA came in the 42nd minute when Frederique Vernooij found space in the circle and fired past freshman goalkeeper Tane King to tie it 1-1. 

From there, the Cavaliers continued to apply pressure, forcing the Orange defense to scramble and rely on penalty corner stops to stay even. King finished with four saves, keeping Syracuse alive in the final minutes.

However, Virginia’s persistence eventually paid off with less than two minutes to play. The Cavaliers earned a late penalty stroke and Mia Abello shot it in the back of the cage to give UVA the 2-1 victory.

The stat sheet reflected the challenge Syracuse faced against Virginia’s defense. 

The Cavaliers limited the Orange to just five shots in the entire second half and forced them into long stretches without possession. 

Syracuse earned seven penalty corners compared to UVA’s three, but converted only once. 

“We moved the ball well,” Farquhar said. “We’ll go back, look at the film, and break some things down. I think we’re working on our variety on how we can attack.”

With the loss, Syracuse drops to 0-2 in ACC play for the first time since 2019.

 The Orange will now shift focus to their next conference matchup against No. 7 Duke. 

With two conference losses already, Syracuse faces a crucial stretch if it hopes to stay in contention for the ACC regular-season title.

Still, Farquhar and the veterans on the roster believe the group’s resilience and depth will carry them forward as they continue to improve throughout the season. 

“I don’t know if anybody can ensure anything in sports,” Farquhar said. “You put your best foot forward and there’s a growth process. It’s a process and we need to figure out how to get one more on the board.”