PROVIDENCE, RI -- For the second consecutive year the top-seeded Syracuse University field hockey team advanced to the BIG EAST Championship final after defeating fourth-seeded and host Providence College, 2-1, on Saturday afternoon at the Friar Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex. The Orange used two first-half goals and a strong defensive effort to earn the victory. SU improves to 17-2, while Providence ends its season with a 10-10 mark.

Senior forward Tracy Deitrick opened the scoring at 11:16, deflecting home a blast from sophomore forward Heather Susek. It was Deitrick’s third goal of the season and seventh of her career. It was Susek’s fifth assist on the year.

Freshman back Amy Kee gave Syracuse a 2-0 lead off a give-and-go feed from sophomore midfielder Martina Loncarica with 2:30 remaining in the first half. The play came off SU’s seventh penalty corner of the half. It was Kee’s 10th goal of the year and Loncarica’s team-best 14th assist. 

Syracuse outshot Providence, 9-0, in the first half and held a 7-2 advantage in penalty corners.

The Orange was without leading scorer Lindsey Conrad for 15 minutes of the first half. The junior forward was hit in the face with a stick and required medical attention.

An Adrienne Marois’ goal from the top of the circle made the score 2-1 at 31:48. Marois beat freshman goalkeeper Leann Stiver high off a play created by a Friar penalty corner. The Orange defense held strong as SU prevailed for the 2-1.

Providence outshot Syracuse 3-2 in the second half with both teams earning three penalty corners.

Stiver made one save in the cage for the Orange. Rachel Chamberlain had four saves for the Friars. Syracuse tallied 11 shots and 10 penalty corners. Providence recorded three shots, all in the second half, and five penalty corners.

The Orange advances to tomorrow's championship game where SU will face No. 7 Connecticut tomorrow at 1 p.m.  Syracuse defeated UConn, 3-2, in double-overtime earlier this season and 1-0 in last season’s championship game.

Courtesy: SU Athletics