Orange Extend Winning Streak at Albany

Photo is courtesy of Syracuse University

ALBANY, N.Y. – Senior Kelly Cross forced a turnover and picked up the ground ball with 32 seconds remaining to secure No. 4 Syracuse's 8-7 victory at Albany on Tuesday, April 12. The win is the Orange's fifth straight and improves their record to 12-3.

Syracuse led by one at halftime, 3-2, and tallied the first two goals of the second half to extend its scoring run to five straight goals and push its lead to 5-2. But the Great Danes (7-4) fought back and tied the score at 5-5 with 18:00 remaining.

Sophomore Riley Donahue broke the tie when she found the back of the net on an assist from Cross
and sparked the Orange on a 3-0 scoring run to put Syracuse back up by three, 8-5. Cross recorded her second straight assist, this time on sophomore Kelzi Van Atta's goal before freshman Nicole Levy posted her third goal of the game off an assist from senior Gabby Jaquith with 10:36 on the clock.

The Great Danes wouldn't go away and Allie Jimerson's goal cut their deficit to two. Syracuse won the ensuing draw, but a turnover gave Albany possession. Rachel Heidenreich made the Orange pay when she found the back of the net with 2:12 remaining to bring the Great Danes within one, 8-7.

Senior Kayla Treanor won the draw, her 11th of the day, to give Syracuse possession. The Orange tried to run out the clock, but a turnover with 50 seconds remaining gave Albany one more chance, but it couldn't take advantage of the opportunity.

"We didn't play our best game but we got through it," said Syracuse head coach Gary Gait. "Albany had a good game plan and they stuck to it. I thought Kayla Treanor was key with her 11 draw controls, and Nicole Levy played very well."

Albany's Julie Cryderman scored on the first two possessions of the game to give the Great Danes an early lead. Albany used a patient attack as its first possession lasted more than four minutes and it led, 2-0, with 22:41 on the clock. The Orange would hold the Great Danes scoreless for the remainder of the half as it netted three straight goals to take a 3-2 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Levy earned a free position attempt, but didn't take the shot, instead passing to senior Halle Majorana on the crease. Majorana put her shot in the back of the net to get Syracuse on the scoreboard. Levy then tied the score at the 9:23 mark when she fired a shot from the left side past Albany goalkeeper Courtney Henderson. The final goal of the half came on a free position by Jaquith with 5:53 on the clock. Orange goalkeeper Allie Murray recorded five saves in the first half.

Levy led the Orange with four points (3g, 1a), while Donahue and Jaquith had one goal and one assist apiece. Treanor had one goal to increase her career total to 245. She is now just five behind Christina Dove '10 for first place on the Orange's career record list.

Syracuse outshot Albany, 23-21, while the Great Danes picked up 15 ground balls to 13 for the Orange. Treanor helped Syracuse to a 14-3 advantage in the draw circle, including all 11 in the second half. Murray and Henderson each finished with seven saves.

The Orange returns to the Carrier Dome on Saturday, April 16 to host ACC rival and third-ranked North Carolina at noon. Admission is free of charge.