2008 Woodie Awards
The Daily OrangeFH | Syracuse, UConn embracing rivalry after Big East thriller
By Edward Paik
Posted: 11/12/08, 1:10 AM EST Section: Sports
When Nancy Stevens thinks rivalry, few schools come off the top of her head. Penn State, North Carolina, Maryland. Teams that have beaten, and been beaten by, the head coach's Connecticut field hockey team. Back and forth. Year after year.
"We've had tremendous success (over Syracuse) over the years," Stevens said. "I think in our player's minds, that's not a rivalry."
Since 1983, Syracuse had won only five games over the Huskies in 29 matches (5-23-1). But Sunday, SU head coach Ange Bradley and the Orange turned the tables - winning 1-0 over UConn in the Big East Championship. Bradley considers this the start of something new.
"Now, clearly, the rivalry has begun," Stevens said.
Sunday's win broke UConn's four-year streak as Big East champions and is the first for Bradley since taking the reins at Syracuse in 2007. The win comes after the Orange was upset by the Huskies last month and a year since UConn knocked the Orange out in the semifinals of the Big East tournament.
"There's definitely a rivalry," senior back Brittany Shannon said.
The past receded Sunday afternoon. After winning the championship, the first thing that rushed to Bradley's mind was last year.
The memory's pristine, she said. The clock over J.S. Coyne Field running out, Bradley thanking her seniors, then watching as the Huskies celebrated its advancement to the Big East championship game.
Bradley told her team they would see UConn again.
Sunday, Stevens watched as Bradley and the Orange sang anthems to their new title.
Only a month ago, Stevens had celebrated an "ironic" upset at J.S. Coyne Field. SU had dominated statistically, but Connecticut pulled away with a win. The same happened Sunday, when the Huskies fell short, despite having more shots on goal and penalty corners.
"Syracuse wasn't rewarded when we played them at their place, and today we weren't rewarded," Stevens said. "It's a rivalry, but it's a good thing for our conference."
"We've had tremendous success (over Syracuse) over the years," Stevens said. "I think in our player's minds, that's not a rivalry."
Since 1983, Syracuse had won only five games over the Huskies in 29 matches (5-23-1). But Sunday, SU head coach Ange Bradley and the Orange turned the tables - winning 1-0 over UConn in the Big East Championship. Bradley considers this the start of something new.
"Now, clearly, the rivalry has begun," Stevens said.
Sunday's win broke UConn's four-year streak as Big East champions and is the first for Bradley since taking the reins at Syracuse in 2007. The win comes after the Orange was upset by the Huskies last month and a year since UConn knocked the Orange out in the semifinals of the Big East tournament.
"There's definitely a rivalry," senior back Brittany Shannon said.
The past receded Sunday afternoon. After winning the championship, the first thing that rushed to Bradley's mind was last year.
The memory's pristine, she said. The clock over J.S. Coyne Field running out, Bradley thanking her seniors, then watching as the Huskies celebrated its advancement to the Big East championship game.
Bradley told her team they would see UConn again.
Sunday, Stevens watched as Bradley and the Orange sang anthems to their new title.
Only a month ago, Stevens had celebrated an "ironic" upset at J.S. Coyne Field. SU had dominated statistically, but Connecticut pulled away with a win. The same happened Sunday, when the Huskies fell short, despite having more shots on goal and penalty corners.
"Syracuse wasn't rewarded when we played them at their place, and today we weren't rewarded," Stevens said. "It's a rivalry, but it's a good thing for our conference."
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