Through the first eight games of 2013, the backs of No. 5 Syracuse (7-1) have proven they can dominate opponents on the field.

Then, on Sunday, they proved their resilience, as well.

Just two days after a rough five-minute stretch ruined the Orange’s Atlantic Coast Conference debut against Boston College, they responded with one of their best performances to date in a 4-0 shutout of Princeton.

“I’m really proud of our kids to be able to come back after dominating a game statistically, every one but the one that matters most, and then come back and shut out the national champions two years in a row,” head coach Ange Bradley said. “It says a lot about the heart and determination that embodies Syracuse field hockey.”

Saturday, Syracuse’s backs will again take center stage in Albany, N.Y., against No. 8 Stanford.

The Cardinal boasts the top-ranked scoring defense in the country with a goals-against average of 0.69. It has also shut out four consecutive opponents, outscoring them 8-0 in the process.

While responsibility falls on the Orange offense to score goals, the defense will be in charge of keeping the game as close as possible.

“We are tough around the five-meter hash mark, and take a tremendous amount of pride in defending our circle,” Bradley said. “Stanford is a team that gets a lot of cards, so we’ve got to be aggressive and more physical.”

The backs are the unsung heroes of a field hockey team. They don’t score many goals or have the same flashy moves as a forward or pure midfielder, but they do all the dirty work necessary to win.

Clearing the ball, fighting for position in front of the net and tracking the opponent’s star player. These are often under-appreciated tasks, yet extremely important to a team’s success.

Seniors Laura Hahnefeldt and Anna Crumb have anchored the Orange defense this season, starting as backs in every single game. Not to mention, they’ve provided veteran leadership for a team with plenty of young pieces.

However, Hahnefeldt will be the first to admit that contributions from teammates have made their jobs a lot easier.

“There’s other people that have stepped up,” she said. “We’ve had Jordan (Page) play in the back there and she’s been really strong. We’ve got a lot of options.”

Junior forward Lauren Brooks is also appreciative of their hard work.

She said the offense is still a work in progress, so the defense’s ability to fluster opponents has been a huge benefit for the entire team.

“We’re still learning to play together as a forward unit and as an overall unit,” Brooks said. “Hopefully, as we work together through the season, the goals will start coming for everyone.”

Hahnefeldt explained how the team’s adherence to a three-back system has aided her and the other defenders. Instead of having to learn new schemes and formations every week, they can focus on the nuances of their game.

“The fact that we can work on the little things and improve step by step every time really helps,” she said.

That’s especially true against a team like Stanford.

Bradley considers the Cardinal the best team that Syracuse has faced so far, based on film. More than anything else, she praised its ability to move the ball.

Hahnefeldt isn’t worried. For her, it’s just another opponent and a chance to prove that the Orange defense is the one to be feared.

“I’m not feeling a lot of pressure,” Hahnefeldt said. “I’m actually just really excited to play them.”

Published on September 26, 2013 at 1:59 am

Contact Tyler: tfpiccot@syr.edu