Orange Ends Season at BIG EAST Quarterfinals

by SU Athletic Communications

October 28, 2012

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Syracuse women’s soccer team’s season came to an end in a 1-0 loss to rv/No. 24 Notre Dame in the quarterfinals of the BIG EAST Tournament on Sunday, Oct. 28. The Orange ends the campaign with a 9-7-2 record for its first winning season since 2003.

“It’s a disappointing loss,” said SU head coach Phil Wheddon. “It’s a sad note to go out on but we know we continue to make strides. We took a top 25 team in the country to the wire today.”

In an evenly played first half, the Fighting Irish (13-4-2) recorded seven shots to Syracuse’s five, while the Orange earned three corner kicks to one for Notre Dame. Freshman Maya Pitts (Montclair, N.J.) was SU’s most dangerous player in the first half as she recorded three shots, including one that went off the crossbar in the 31st minute. Orange goalkeeper Brittany Anghel (East Meadow, N.Y.) recorded two saves in the first half as teams were tied 0-0 at halftime.

Syracuse’s defense withstood Notre Dame’s offensive pressure to open the second half as the Fighting Irish had four shots in the opening 10 minutes. Notre Dame finally broke through in the 77th minute. Mandy Laddish played the ball long out of the Fighting Irish’s defensive end. Notre Dame’s Cari Roccaro, Anghel and two SU defenders converged on the ball. Roccaro came away with possession and dribbled the ball left and shot from 15 yards out into an open net for the only goal of the game.

The Fighting Irish had 17 shots and seven corner kicks compared to seven shots and three corner kicks for the Orange. Anghel finished with six saves, while Elyse Hight had two for the Fighting Irish.

“Notre Dame played a very direct style, serving it into the box early and often,” Wheddon said. “We had several players who stepped up and had tremendous games. I thought our back four was very good throughout the game. Brittany had a fantastic game.”

Syracuse’s nine wins this season are its highest total since 2003. The Orange qualified for the BIG EAST Tournament for the second consecutive season, marking the first time SU has appeared in postseason play in back-to-back years since 1999 and 2000.

“I’d like to thank the senior class, which has meant so much to me,” Wheddon said. “Moving forward we look forward to each of them continuing to be a part of the Syracuse family.”

AGATE
1st 2nd Final
Syracuse 0 0 0
Notre Dame 0 1 1

Scoring:
77:13 ND Roccaro, Cari (Laddish, Mandy)

Shots: Notre Dame 17, Syracuse 7
Corner Kicks: Notre Dame 7, Syracuse 3
Saves: Syracuse 6 (Anghel, Brittany), Notre Dame 2 (Hight, Elyse)

Attendance: 349

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