CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - No. 12 Syracuse cut a four-goal deficit to two with five minutes to play but could get no closer in a 9-7 setback to No. 10 Virginia in Charlottesville, Va. on Sunday, Feb. 26. The Orange goes to 1-1, while the Cavaliers improve to 3-0.

Syracuse took an early lead when sophomore Katie Webster gathered the ball off a failed Virginia clear and put her shot in the back of the net at the 28:07 mark. After the Cavaliers tied the score, freshman Kailah Kempney netted her sixth goal of the season on a free position goal to put the Orange back on top with 21:30 left in the first half. Sophomore Alyssa Murray had a chance to extend SU's lead but her goal on a free position attempt was disallowed because she was in the crease.

Liza Blue scored her first goal of the game at the 7:32 mark, which tied the game and sparked Virginia on a 4-1 scoring run that gave the Cavaliers a 5-3 halftime advantage.

Virginia recorded the first goal of the second half to take a three-goal lead with 27:50 to play. After the teams traded goals, junior Bridget Daley scored on a hard shot from the top of the fan of an assist from Murray to cut the deficit to two. Back-to-back goals by the Cavaliers gave Virginia its largest lead of the game at 9-5 with 7:20 remaining.

The Orange's comeback attempt started when Daley found senior Sarah Holden cutting in front of the net. Holden put her shot past UVa goalkeeper Kim Kolarik for her first goal of the season. Kempney followed with a goal off an assist from Murray to cut the Cavaliers' lead to 9-7 with 5:40 on the clock. Holden had a chance cut the lead to one, but Kolarik stopped the shot to maintain Virginia's two-goal advantage. The Orange had another opportunity in its offensive zone, but turned the ball over and the Cavaliers ran out the clock to record the victory.

"We have to be ready to play," said Syracuse head coach Gary Gait. "We're a young team. We have to be able to step up and make plays under pressure. Hopefully we will learn from this game."

Murray led the Orange with three points (1g, 2a), while Kempney had two goals. Freshman Devon Collins added a goal and junior Becca Block had an assist. Blue led the Cavaliers with three goals.

Syracuse outshot Virginia, 25-22, and had 17 ground balls to 14 for the Cavaliers. Both teams recorded nine draw controls. Sophomore Alyssa Costantino played the first half in goal for the Orange and made two saves. Freshman Kelsey Richardson made one save in the second half. Kolarik finished with 10 saves for Virginia.

The Orange is back in action at the Carrier Dome on Wednesday, Feb. 29 when it hosts No. 1 Northwestern at 7 p.m. Admission is free of charge.

**Courtesy SU Athletics**