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Entering Friday’s game, in three games all-time for No. 10 Syracuse at Lock Haven, SU had lost them all. The Orange hadn’t played the Bald Eagles since 1988, when they won 3-2 and haven’t traveled to play them on the road since 1987.

In commanding fashion to open the 2024 season, No. 10 Syracuse (1-0, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) defeated Lock Haven (0-1, 0-0 Atlantic 10) 9-0 Friday afternoon. Entering the season, Lock Haven was sixth in the A-10 preseason rankings while Syracuse landed fourth in the ACC one. The Orange quickly controlled the pace en route to a nine-goal victory.

Throughout the game, SU’s offense was connected. Just eight minutes in, Syracuse defender Bo van Kempen scored her first goal of the season in her first career game for the Orange. Van Kempen then scored SU’s second goal at the start of the second quarter.

Syracuse capitalized on Lock Haven’s 16 penalties committed, scoring two of its nine goals on penalty corner shots. Van Kempen’s two early goals came off penalty shots, which she buried into the back of the net. SU shared the wealth throughout the whole team with eight different scorers. Besides van Kempen’s two goals, Olivia Bell, Willemijn Boogert, Sarah Smalley, Pati Strunk, Taja Gans, Vivian Rowan and Aiden Drabick all scored.

Following a goalkeeper battle throughout the preseason, senior Louise Pert started the opener for the Orange. Pert didn’t have much action come her way, with just one corner from Lock Haven’s offense. Lock Haven also struggled to advance the ball into SU’s territory, with the Bald Eagles’ first time in its attacking third coming with 9:48 left in the second quarter.

While Syracuse committed 20 fouls compared to Lock Haven’s 16, there were zero offside calls and no cards given out. Even when SU looked like it would calm down, it often set up an attack and put offensive pressure on Lock Haven goalkeeper Kelsey Felix, who exited the game with 1:45 left in the second quarter.

Sophomore Hattie Madden led the game with three shots on goal, while Boogert and Annabelle Vossenaar each had two assists for SU. In the second half, SU switched goalkeepers, bringing in Vera Hekkenberg, a freshman from the Netherlands. She held her ground, also with minimal action from Lock Haven’s offense.

Along with SU’s consistent offensive control, its defense was impressive throughout. During the entire game, the Bald Eagles didn’t record a single shot. They had one penalty corner shot late in the first quarter, but were unable to capitalize.

With a comfortable lead almost the entire game, SU rested its starters, giving Bo Madden 33 minutes off the bench and Vossenaar and Nina van Asselen each 28. SU’s substitutes contributed significantly to the team’s success, with Rowan, Strunk and Bell each scoring off the bench while playing under 20 minutes.

Published on August 30, 2024 at 6:13 pm

Contact: jordankimball28@gmail.com | @JordanKimball_