SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The No. 2/2 Syracuse women's lacrosse team goes for its third BIG EAST Tournament title when it hosts the conference championship this week in the Carrier Dome. Semifinal action takes place on Thursday, May 3 when No.2 seed Loyola (Md.) (11-5, 7-1) battles No. 3 Notre Dame (13-3, 6-2) at 5:30 p.m. Top-seeded Syracuse (15-2, 8-0) will face No. 4 seed Georgetown (9-7, 5-3) in the second semifinal at approximately 8:15 p.m.
ORANGE IN THE BIG EAST TOURNAMENT
Syracuse is vying for its third BIG EAST Tournament title. The Orange captured the first two tournament crowns after the conference elected for a tournament format in 2007. The Carrier Dome played host to the inaugural league championship, while SU took home the title in 2008 at Notre Dame.
The Orange owns a 5-2 record in BIG EAST Tournament competition, with its last victory coming in the 2010 semifinal versus Notre Dame in four overtimes.
GREYHOUNDS VERSUS IRISH
Loyola (Md.) finished the regular season second in the BIG EAST, with an 11-5 overall record and a 7-1 mark in conference play. The Greyhounds captured four wins against teams ranked in the top 20 during the 2012 season, including a 17-11 victory against No. 6 Notre Dame on April 1.
Notre Dame enters the BIG EAST Tournament winning five out of its last six contests. The Irish posted a 13-3 overall record and a 6-2 conference mark to earn the third seed in the tournament. UND began the season on an eight-game winning streak, which included two wins against opponents ranked in the top 20 (Ohio State and Cornell), before registering its first loss of the season versus Loyola (Md.).
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE ORANGE
Syracuse used a potent offensive attack to secure the outright BIG EAST regular-season championship on Sunday, April 29. The Orange scored the contest's first seven goals en route to an 18-3 triumph versus Villanova. The victory capped an undefeated conference slate (8-0) for the second time in program history.
Junior Michelle Tumolo (Mullica Hill, N.J.) led a balanced Syracuse offense, as the attacker tied career highs with eight points and five assists. Sophomore Alyssa Murray (West Babylon, N.Y.) registered a game-high four goals, while also contributing an assist for the Orange. Ten different SU student-athletes found the back of the net, as senior Sarah Holden (Marcellus, N.Y.) and freshmen Kailah Kempney (Carthage, N.Y.) and Devon Collins (Rochester, N.Y.) added two goals apiece.
Syracuse registered a decided advantage in the circle, as the Orange won the draw control battle, 20-3. Goalkeepers Alyssa Costantino (West Islip, N.Y.) and Kelsey Richardson (Memphis, N.Y.) recorded a combined eight saves and held the Wildcats scoreless for the first 23 minutes of the contest.
SCOUTING THE HOYAS
Georgetown broke a three-game losing streak when it beat Rutgers, 9-7, in the last regular-season contest to earn a berth to the BIG EAST Tournament. The Hoyas finished fourth in the regular-season conference standings with a 5-3 mark, and a 9-7 overall record.
Sophomore Sophia Thomas leads the Georgetown offense with a team-high 38 goals and 46 points. Kelsi Bozel, Erin Lovett and Jody Cumberpatch have registered 10 assists apiece, which tie for the team lead. Barb Black starts in goal for the Hoyas, and has posted a goals-against average of 11.0 and a 0.357 save percentage.
Head coach Ricky Fried is in his eighth season at the helm in the nation's capital. In his first seven seasons, Fried has posted a 93-54 overall record. He led the Hoyas to the BIG EAST Tournament Championship in 2010.
THE SERIES
Georgetown leads the overall series with the Orange, 14-5. This season, Syracuse captured a 22-11 victory against the Hoyas in the Carrier Dome on April 14. Junior Michelle Tumolo (Mullica Hill, N.J.) tied her career high with eight points, while freshmen Kailah Kempney (Carthage, N.Y.) and Devon Collins (Rochester, N.Y.) recorded five goals apiece.
UP NEXT…
The victors of the semifinal match-ups will meet in the conference championship game on Saturday, May 5 in the Carrier Dome. Game time is set for 1 p.m.
**Courtesy SU Athletics**
