Fifty-three minutes into the game, freshman Kate Donovan stood in front of the net, waiting for the corner kick. The incoming cross found Carolin Bader. Clearing it into the middle, Bader found Donovan with a chip. Using her head, Donovan sent the ball flying past the Cornell goalie and into the back of the net for the second time in the game.

Donovan’s goal was the final one in Syracuse’s (3-1-1) 3-0 shutout win over Cornell (0-1-0) on Thursday night at SU Soccer Stadium.

For the first time this season, Syracuse had four freshmen in their starting line-up, including Kate Hostage’s first start as an Orange.

“It’s not often you can start four freshmen,” head coach Phil Wheddon said, “but today we did have everyone go onto the field. We had freshmen making an impact.”

The rest of the freshmen stepped onto the field at least once, including freshman goalie Lysianne Proulx. Wanting to get the freshman some playing experience, Wheddon chose to pull senior goalie Courtney Brosnan almost 63 minutes into the game. Brosnan faced only one shot which she saved before being pulled. Proulx faced none.

In total, the freshmen had four of the 16 shots and two of the three goals. Hostage set up a goal as well.

The first goal of the game came 22 minutes into regulation and was made after Hostage was knocked down inside the box. Sophomore Taylor Bennett buried the ensuing penalty kick.

“We practice (penalty kicks) a lot,” Bennett said. “I’m pretty confident taking it.”

Before the end of the half, Donovan found the back of the net for the first time in her college career. She went between two Cornell defenders and teammate Opal Curless spotted her at the top of the box. Curless threaded the ball her way. Donovan put the Orange up 2-0 at the end of the first half.

“Everyone made an impact,” Wheddon said.

Published on August 31, 2017 at 11:43 pm

Contact Kaci: klwasile@syr.edu