Following Saturday’s NCAA tournament quarterfinal between Syracuse and Boston College, both head coaches agreed that their teams had played a hard-fought game with a trip to the final four on the line.

They did not, however, see eye-to-eye when it came to the team in stripes.

After a controversial charge call against BC defender Claire Blohm late in the game and a number of other close calls that went in SU’s (20-2, 6-1 Atlantic Coast) favor, Boston College (15-6, 3-4) head coach Acacia Walker was clearly not happy with the officials following the Orange’s 11-9 victory. Though she ultimately blamed bad luck and a few missed scoring chances for the loss, she took issue with some 50-50 calls.

“It is what it is,” Walker said. “The officiating doesn’t determine the game, but it is obviously frustrating on both ends.

“I think we’re used to the calls going against us.”

The frustration began to mount in the second half, when Syracuse was granted possession following an Eagles missed scoring chance midway through the frame.

But the charge proved to be the most memorable example, as Blohm barreled over Orange defender Kasey Mock en route to the cage and fired a shot with 2:39 remaining. The ball crossed the goal line and seemingly tightened a two-goal deficit, but the score was immediately waved off.

Both the BC bench and visiting fans in attendance erupted in disgust.

Meanwhile, SU head coach Gary Gait was adamant that the officials didn’t do his team any favors.

“I thought certainly early, we had more fouls than they did,” Gait said. “Yellow cards. We had everything. It wasn’t like we were getting favoritism by any means.”

In Gait’s view, the Orange was not gifted any possessions on shot backups or plays near the out-of-bounds lines. It earned each one.

He said he couldn’t remember any decision that could have swung in favor of either team.

“When you’re closer to the ball, you get the ball,” he deadpanned.

Published on May 17, 2014 at 6:33 pm

Contact Tyler: tfpiccot@syr.edu