Syracuse Women’s Soccer Team Gets Victory in First Game Since Hanna Strong’s Suspension

By Julia Morris

Erin Simon tries to dribble past a defender (c) Julia Morris

It took two overtimes but the Syracuse women’s soccer team (3-1-2) managed to get another win Sunday morning, defeating the University of Vermont Catamounts (2-3) by a score of 3-2. If the shadow of controversy affected the SU performance no one would say so.

The Orange has been the subject of national conversation this weekend after senior midfielder Hanna Strong was caught on video using racial and homophobic slurs. Syracuse athletic director Daryl Gross issued a statement saying Strong had been suspended indefinitely from the team and that "Syracuse Athletics, as a strong and diverse part of this University community, has zero tolerance for these actions." 

Syracuse Coach Phil Wheddon spoke briefly about the incident after the game.

"The University has made a statement," Wheddon said. "We stand by our university’s policy and we support Dr. Gross and the Chancellor.”

When asked specifically about Strong as a person, Wheddon responded that he would only discuss players that were present at the game.  None of the Orange players was available for post-game interviews.

Taylor Haenlin kicks the ball down the field (c) Julia Morris

Syracuse jumped out to an early lead scoring two goals in the first half - both on follow-up plays.  About eight minutes into the game, Junior Maya Pitts shot the ball at the goal, but it bounced off the top of the post and then back to her.  Pitts took advantage of the second chance opportunity and headed the ball into the net for her first goal of the season, putting the Orange ahead 1-0. 

A few minutes later, forward Stephanie Skilton, who was coming off a five point performance in the Orange's previous game against UMass-Lowell, rebounded her own shot and kicked the ball into the lower right hand corner of the net for a score. The goal was the sophomore's 14th of her career and put the Orange up 2-0.  

Syracuse had nine other shots and one corner kick in the first half but could not convert.  Vermont managed to only get two shots off in the half.

Despite the Orange's ability to control the Catamounts' offense in the first half, the second half was a different story as Syracuse struggled to finish while Vermont capitalized on its opportunities.

“I don’t think they really had a dangerous opportunity in the first half and then we managed to let them back in the game," Wheddon said.

With 33:46 left in the 2nd half, Catamount freshman forward Rylee Osgood passed the ball to fellow freshman Sarah Martin, who kicked the ball into the far left corner of the net to make the score 2-1.  Then with only 5:24 left in regulation Vermont evened the score when freshman midfielder Jessica Silverman shot the ball into the upper right corner of the net for her second goal in as many games.  The two goals for Vermont came on only six shots, while the Orange shot 12 times but did not score. After the game, Wheddon said the Orange had too many missed chances.

“We had tons and tons of opportunities," Wheddon said. "We’ve got to be more clinical for sure."

The game headed into overtime as the score remained 2-2 at the end of regulation.  The Orange was looking for its first overtime victory this season, having tied with Missouri and Connecticut in previous extra time contests.   

In the first overtime, the Catamounts could not manage to get any shots off, and the Orange missed the goal on its five chances.  Vermont goalie Ally Ramos made several spectacular stops, including a diving save with 4:32 left in the first overtime.  Wheddon took note of Ramos' hustle and how difficult she made it for the Orange to score.

"Give credit to their goalkeeper…(she) pulled off some world class saves."
    

After the scoreless draught in the second half and first overtime, the Orange finally finished with 7:46 left in the second overtime.  Forward Alex LaMontagne flew down the field on a breakaway and slid the ball into the lower right corner of the net, ending the game and giving the Orange a 3-2 victory.  The goal was LaMontagne's third of the season.  Wheddon said after the game that the freshman has many favorable qualities that make her an asset to the team.

“She’s an athletic specimen, she’s dangerous, she’s competitive, she’s everything you would want out of a forward and she picked her spot on that last goal. I’m thrilled for her and I’m pleased that we have her and we’re not playing against her."  

The Orange will travel to Hamilton again on Thursday to face Colgate at 7pm.  The Catamounts' next match is Saturday in Connecticut against Quinnipiac. The start of the game is 1pm.