2008 Woodie Awards
The Daily OrangeWLAX | Fine finale: Syracuse ties season high in goals routs Colgate on Senior Night
By Christopher James
Posted: 4/17/08, 12:19 AM EST Section: Sports
With the pressure off, even ugly goals started to fall for SU. In the first quarter, Awehiyo Thomas curled across the fan and looked up to find the ball bouncing precariously around the pocket of her stick.
After several seconds, the ball settled, and Thomas blasted it into the back of the net to make it 3-0.
Syracuse head coach Gary Gait said the start was normal - sometimes games have a sort of chaotic start before teams calm down. After 10 minutes, Syracuse had done more than settle in, rolling its way to a six-goal lead.
"I thought we shot much better today," Gait said. "They were a little more relaxed…Six- goal run you score on six or seven shots, it's going to happen.
"As much as you tell the players you got to be ready, you got to be prepared, in the back of your mind you know it's an unranked opponent."
Rowan said the senior night festivities before the game may have left the team a bit distracted. After a Colgate timeout in the first quarter, Rowan said SU had no trouble.
"It has been the goal all year to stay mentally focused," Rowan said. "Get pumped for every game and as Halley (Quillinan) said play a full 60 minutes."
Gait said keeping focus against another weaker opponent can be a challenge.
At the end of the day, Gait said allowing six goals was still a little high for his liking. Improving the defensive sliding and double teams, a common theme all season, remains a priority for Gait.
"Happy with the win," Gait said. "We all know, or at least I know, they could play a little better if they really, really dug down."
chjames@syr.edu
After several seconds, the ball settled, and Thomas blasted it into the back of the net to make it 3-0.
Syracuse head coach Gary Gait said the start was normal - sometimes games have a sort of chaotic start before teams calm down. After 10 minutes, Syracuse had done more than settle in, rolling its way to a six-goal lead.
"I thought we shot much better today," Gait said. "They were a little more relaxed…Six- goal run you score on six or seven shots, it's going to happen.
"As much as you tell the players you got to be ready, you got to be prepared, in the back of your mind you know it's an unranked opponent."
Rowan said the senior night festivities before the game may have left the team a bit distracted. After a Colgate timeout in the first quarter, Rowan said SU had no trouble.
"It has been the goal all year to stay mentally focused," Rowan said. "Get pumped for every game and as Halley (Quillinan) said play a full 60 minutes."
Gait said keeping focus against another weaker opponent can be a challenge.
At the end of the day, Gait said allowing six goals was still a little high for his liking. Improving the defensive sliding and double teams, a common theme all season, remains a priority for Gait.
"Happy with the win," Gait said. "We all know, or at least I know, they could play a little better if they really, really dug down."
chjames@syr.edu
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