2008 Woodie Awards
The Daily OrangeWLAX | SU uses free positions to net 22 goals
By Christopher James
Posted: 3/19/08, 10:29 PM EST Section: Sports
Christina Dove drove through the fan and into a trio of Towson defenders, who quickly stick-checked the ball away.
Dove looked to the Carrier Dome roof, a bit dazed, when the ball squirted to her feet. Dove didn't see it, as her teammates yelled to her where it was. Finally finding the ball, Dove scooped it up, and a Syracuse turnover was suddenly a fresh possession.
It was that kind of game for the No. 5 Orange Wednesday as it easily dispatched Towson 22-5 in front of 189 at the Dome. Despite Towson's best defensive efforts, Syracuse was still able to roll up 22 goals. The Tigers had averaged nearly 15 goals a game before being held to just two in the first half.
While Towson was able to stymie the prolific Syracuse attack, preventing it from running and forcing SU (6-1) into more deliberate possessions, the Orange remained patient and routed the Tigers by waiting for free position chances when the defense got overzealous.
"(Free positions) were crucial," Dove said. "They were playing tough defense, like aggressive defense, so it's always nice to make them pay on eight-meters."
Towson (5-2) had only allowed eight free position goals in six games all year coming into the Carrier Dome. SU put up four goals from the eight-meter mark in the first half alone, including three straight in a five-minute span that put the Orange up 6-0.
"We work on it," Syracuse coach Gary Gait said. "There's nothing like a free shot and a great opportunity to score."
The Orange opened up the scoring with a Dove goal off a free position, but it came more than three minutes into the game, the longest it has taken SU to score a goal all season. Towson was even able to hold the ball in the offensive zone and get point blank shots off against the defense.
On the offensive end, Syracuse tested the interior of the fan, but the Tigers wouldn't let SU penetrate. On one of the Orange's rare breaks early in the game, Kristin Brady found a streaking Katie Rowan reeling back for a point-blank shot. The Towson defense collapsed in on her and Rowan's stick flew forward while the ball slipped straight to the ground.
Dove looked to the Carrier Dome roof, a bit dazed, when the ball squirted to her feet. Dove didn't see it, as her teammates yelled to her where it was. Finally finding the ball, Dove scooped it up, and a Syracuse turnover was suddenly a fresh possession.
It was that kind of game for the No. 5 Orange Wednesday as it easily dispatched Towson 22-5 in front of 189 at the Dome. Despite Towson's best defensive efforts, Syracuse was still able to roll up 22 goals. The Tigers had averaged nearly 15 goals a game before being held to just two in the first half.
While Towson was able to stymie the prolific Syracuse attack, preventing it from running and forcing SU (6-1) into more deliberate possessions, the Orange remained patient and routed the Tigers by waiting for free position chances when the defense got overzealous.
"(Free positions) were crucial," Dove said. "They were playing tough defense, like aggressive defense, so it's always nice to make them pay on eight-meters."
Towson (5-2) had only allowed eight free position goals in six games all year coming into the Carrier Dome. SU put up four goals from the eight-meter mark in the first half alone, including three straight in a five-minute span that put the Orange up 6-0.
"We work on it," Syracuse coach Gary Gait said. "There's nothing like a free shot and a great opportunity to score."
The Orange opened up the scoring with a Dove goal off a free position, but it came more than three minutes into the game, the longest it has taken SU to score a goal all season. Towson was even able to hold the ball in the offensive zone and get point blank shots off against the defense.
On the offensive end, Syracuse tested the interior of the fan, but the Tigers wouldn't let SU penetrate. On one of the Orange's rare breaks early in the game, Kristin Brady found a streaking Katie Rowan reeling back for a point-blank shot. The Towson defense collapsed in on her and Rowan's stick flew forward while the ball slipped straight to the ground.
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