For more than three quarters, Syracuse’s offense stalled. The same group of forwards and midfielders that put up four goals in the 4-3 season-opening win just two days before couldn’t manage to maintain possession in the circle against UMass Lowell. As SU attempted a second or third pass to keep attacks alive, a herd of River Hawks swarmed to knock the ball away.

So when Charlotte de Vries corralled the ball in transition five minutes into the fourth quarter, with only one Lowell defender to beat, she turned her back and set up her move. The Syracuse freshman twisted her stick and inched toward the cage. De Vries fired a reverse hit that bounced past goalie Eva Berkhout and into the right corner, putting the Orange up a goal.

For the second time this weekend, that single-point lead was enough. No. 18 Syracuse (2-0) stole a 1-0 win from UMass Lowell (1-1) on the road Sunday afternoon, despite totaling only two shots on goal compared to 12 for the River Hawks. On a team full of returnees from last year’s roster, it was a pair of freshmen — De Vries and goalie Sarah Sinck, who tallied 11 saves in the shutout win — that the provided the sparks that SU needed to enter its home opener on Monday against Lafayette undefeated. With the victory, the Orange have won two consecutive games to open the season for the past eight years.

On Friday, two goals by de Vries — one with six minutes left in regulation, the other to win in overtime — allowed the Orange to avoid an upset to unranked Vermont and win its 13th-straight season opener. Junior Carolin Hoffman opened the scoring for the Orange — tying her total for the 2018 season —  but during its first tilt of September, SU’s offense came out flat. 

Deep passes missed targets and sailed harmlessly out of bounds, possessions faltered in the offensive end and penalty corner shots were blocked by the Red Hawks’ defenders. Sophomore Laura Graziosi, who was primarily the Orange’s penalty corner setter, failed to contain one pass in the first half that bounced away and, in the second half, popped up for a shot that was again blocked by the UMass player. 

Yet a strong defensive showing, highlighted by Sinck’s performance in her second collegiate game, allowed the Orange to overcome struggles in the UMass zone. Near the end of the first quarter, she bent down to save a Red Hawk penalty kill, but allowed a bouncing rebound in the crease. The Eindhoven, Netherlands native stretched out on her right side as sticks jammed, but prevented the ball from crossing into the cage.

With the game still scoreless, UML’s first offensive possession of the fourth quarter climaxed when Sinck abandoned the cage and stepped up toward a bouncing ball in the crease. Red Hawk junior Sophie Kroeze swung at the ball, and it appeared that UMass would tally the first goal. But Hoffmann, standing near the cage line, lunged toward the right post and knocked the ball away with her stick. Her first career defensive save combined with Sinck’s 11 for the Orange’s first shutout since Sept. 16. It was also Sinck’s first of her SU career.

After taking their first two games on the road, the Orange will suit up at J.S. Coyne Stadium on Monday for the first time in its 2019 campaign. SU takes on Patriot League foe Lafayette (1-0) at 6 p.m., as the Orange attempt to win their 15th consecutive home opener.

Published on September 1, 2019 at 4:37 pm

Contact Andrew: arcrane@syr.edu | @CraneAndrew