CU field hockey to face No. 5 Syracuse

The Columbia field hockey team’s backline proved its worth last weekend, and the Lions, taking on one of the most potent offenses in the nation, will need another strong defensive show on Sunday.

The Light Blue (4-5, 2-1 Ivy) will travel to Syracuse, N.Y., to face off against the No. 5-ranked Orange (10-2) on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

Coming off a 3-2 win over Albany on Wednesday, Syracuse has now won seven in a row, extending its winning streak at home to 23 games—going back to 2009.

Led by junior forward Kelsey Millman, who has tallied eight goals and a team-high nine assists, the Orange has dominated its opponents this season, scoring 41 goals while allowing only 12.
Lions’ head coach Marybeth Freeman said the key to giving Syracuse a run for its money will be to recognize the Orange’s strengths but not dwell on them.

“Going into the game against Syracuse, we need to not give a tremendous amount of energy to what Syracuse is doing, but focus on playing our game instead,” she said.

The Light Blue had mixed results last weekend, defeating Rutgers 2-1 after falling 3-2 to Princeton in double-overtime. Junior forward Gabby Kozlowski scored in both games, and her contribution to Columbia’s offense will be essential against the Orange.

Despite the loss, pushing the Tigers to extra time was a morale victory that will carry the Lions into Sunday’s match, according to Freeman.

“We have to get into the mind-set that every game sets us up for the next,” she said. “It’s very important we prepare mentally and physically for every opponent.”