No. 12 Syracuse (7-4, 0-2 Atlantic Coast) ended a season-long five-game road stretch with a win over Princeton (4-4, 1-1 Ivy) 17-16, on Thursday at Class of 1952 Stadium. A game of runs ended with Sam Swart causing a turnover in the final minute, and SU escaped Princeton with a much-needed victory.

Nine different players racked up points for the Orange, with Bella Recchion, Riley Donahue, Vanessa Costantino and Swart adding four points each. Tess D’Orsi drove the Tigers with five goals on 11 shots. Princeton led in most statistical categories, like shots (32-30), ground balls (21-15), free-position shots (9-3) and clears (19-16). It also committed 19 turnovers to Syracuse’s 20.

With both offenses firing, five goalies were rotated through the game. Winnie Brandfield-Harvey started for Princeton, allowing five goals and only recording two saves before Mary Kate McDonough entered. McDonough only saved one shot and let in four goals herself. Sam Fish entered the game with two minutes left in the first half and finished the game.

On the SU side, Asa Goldstock started the game and was pulled in favor of top-recruit Hannah Van Middelem. After the freshman corralled two saves and let in three goals, Goldstock was subbed back in and finished the game with eight saves.

Neena Merola opened the scoring with her 10th goal of the year just 50 seconds into the game courtesy of a Costantino pass. Two other midfielders, Taylor Gait and Swart, added a score apiece and gave SU a 3-0 lead.

After the Tigers brought the game within one, the Orange netted four goals in a four-minute span and went into the break with a 9-5 lead. Syracuse entered the break primed to make adjustments that it has all season, but it was Princeton that came out strong. The home-team rattled off a 4-0 run of its own and tied the game.

SU responded with two quick strikes, but the Tigers went on another run, 3-0 this time, and took its first lead of the game on a D’Orsi eight-meter. Following that goal, Donahue scored twice in 40 seconds to wrestle back the lead. A Cara Quimby man-up goal with 10:27 left gave Syracuse the lead for good.

Syracuse returns to the Carrier Dome on Saturday, Mar. 31, against No. 20 Duke, looking to earn its first ACC win.

Published on March 29, 2018 at 7:40 pm

Contact Nick: nialvare@syr.edu | @nick_a_alvarez