After losing a heartbreaking game to Rutgers, 1-0, in double overtime at SU Soccer Stadium on Friday, Pat Farmer said he saw four or five of his players crying.

‘I’m a little worried that they’ll be thinking, ‘No matter what we do we’re just not quite getting it done,” SU head coach Farmer said. ‘We haven’t gotten the rub of the green.’

The Orange (2-11-3, 1-6-1 Big East) was the clear underdog entering the game, but SU held the Scarlet Knights (12-2-1, 6-1-1) scoreless through regulation and one overtime period. Just 1:35 into the second overtime, Rutgers played the ball toward Syracuse goalie Eliza Bennett-Hattan.

The freshman keeper came out to punch the ball away from the net, coming into contact with Rutgers players. Gina DeMaio took possession of the ball for the Scarlet Knights and passed to Jen Anzivino, who blasted a shot into the right side of the open net for the game-winning goal.

‘They knocked into me and I didn’t get set in time to be able to save the shot,’ Bennett-Hattan said. ‘I watched it hoping that it didn’t go in, hoping that something happened.’

Farmer said Bennett-Hattan made the right decision to go out and play the ball rather than waiting for it to come to her. Even with the contact, she was still able to knock the ball out of the penalty area. The Orange just wasn’t able to clear it out of the defensive end in time.

While he was not displeased with his goalie, Farmer was upset at the referees after the game.

‘If we were allowed to disagree with the officials I would,’ Farmer said. ‘I thought she just got pounded and knocked to the ground so she wasn’t quite as settled when she got up.’

Farmer had more reasons to be upset at the referees at the end of the first overtime. Sophomore Lauren Cappelli pushed the ball into the Rutgers end in the final 20 seconds. She was taken down violently, leading to a foul and a free kick, but the Orange only had enough time for Sara Grimsgaard to fire a shot towards the goal.

Cappelli was still on the ground after Grimsgaard’s kick sailed wide. While the referee checked on her, a Rutgers player shoved Grimsgaard in the back. The official’s back was turned to the altercation and no cards were issued.

‘I don’t know what was said or what went on,’ Farmer said. ‘But there were four referees and three of them didn’t see the girl push Sara Grimsgaard from behind. I was glad that Sara didn’t turn around and just drop her.’

Though Syracuse did not score in the game for the 11th time in 16 contests this season, the offense showed signs of improvement. The Orange had most of the quality chances in regulation and controlled the ball for much of the game.

Amanda Arcuri gave SU its best chance at a goal in regulation when she raced out ahead of the defense to receive a pass from Tessa MacDougal. The sophomore received the ball on the right side, made a crossover move to her left and fired a left-footed shot on goal. Rutgers goalie Erin Guthrie made a full-extension dive to her right and barely got her hand on the ball to knock it wide of the net.

‘You have to have some luck sometimes,’ Arcuri said. ‘I thought I got off a good shot and I knew she’s a good goalie and she made a great save.’

Arcuri repaid MacDougal three minutes into the first overtime when she passed to her just inside the penalty area. MacDougal flicked a shot to the left side but it deflected off the post, preserving the scoreless tie.

‘Tessa and I are reading each other after playing with each other for a while,’ Arcuri said. ‘It helps us mesh and we’re doing a lot better understanding where the ball is going to go.’

Published on October 14, 2006 at 12:00 pm