Syracuse ranked No. 1 for second time in program history
For the second time in program history, the Syracuse field hockey team (9-0) is No. 1 in the nation in the Division I Coaches Poll, which was released Tuesday.
The Orange had been ranked second in the country for the past three weeks after the team’s Sept. 1 overtime win over then-No. 2 North Carolina. This promoted ranking came after a pair of shutout victories in New Jersey, including a 2-0 win over No. 3 Princeton on Sunday.
Aside from defeating two top-three teams in the country in UNC and Princeton, Syracuse has defeated the two other ranked opponents it has faced — then-No. 24 New Hampshire and No. 12 Boston.
Ange Bradley’s squad received 25 first-place votes in this week’s poll. The Tar Heels (9-1) received 22 first-place votes and dropped one spot in the rankings to second. Princeton (7-1) and Maryland (7-1) retained their No. 3 and No. 4 rankings, respectively.
Connecticut is the only other remaining undefeated team in the nation at 9-0, and the Huskies received one first-place vote and maintained their rank at No. 5.
This is the Orange’s first time at the top of the rankings since Oct. 14, 2008, when the team was 14-0 and the only undefeated team in the country. That team, also coached by Bradley, finished 22-2 overall and reached the Final Four.
Syracuse looks to extend its 32-game winning streak at J.S. Coyne Stadium this weekend, hosting No. 25 Louisville on Saturday and Yale on Sunday.
Published on September 26, 2012 at 2:55 am
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