NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!

Sunday, November 22

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1 p.m.

Syracuse University

(21-1)

#1 North Carolina

(21-3)

North Carolina

Syracuse

11/22/2015 3:36:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

Syracuse field hockey takes the crown

Dreams Realized!

The Syracuse field hockey team won the program's first National Championship and the first-ever women's National Championship at Syracuse University.

"I've been chasing this dream for 25 years," said head coach Ange Bradley. "I'm so proud of these women that have worked so hard."

During the win, senior forward Emma Russell became Syracuse's all-time leader in points, while her and fellow seniors Jess Jecko and Alyssa Manley became the winningest class in program history percentage wise, concluding their careers with a 74-14 mark.

"This senior class is so special to me," Bradley said. "We've had so many successes and many of those successes have come after failure. This group has really believed in the program and there are times that I'm learning from them. They embraced the philosophy, they're humble and hard working. To represent the women of more than 30-something years of Syracuse field hockey, this is for them. For this senior class to be the group to do it is something special."

Syracuse got on the board early after Liz Sack drove baseline on the Tar Heel defense. She sent a pass out to Russell after drawing the goalkeeper. Russell buried the shot to give 'Cuse the lead. The goal mounted her point total to 139 in her career, tying Martina Loncaria for the all-time program lead.

Russell's goal came 8:30 into the game. Syracuse has scored in the first-10 minutes of each of the four NCAA Tournament games and five-of-six postseason games including the ACC Tournament.

Moments later, Alma Fenne took the ball into the circle on her own and fired a low-backhand shot into the lower right hand corner to up 'Cuse's lead to two.

The Tar Heels mounted a late push in the half, drawing a corner with 11 minutes remaining in the half, but Jess Jecko made a huge save after the ball had gotten behind her to keep Carolina off the board heading into the locker room.

North Carolina got on the board in the first-three minutes coming out of the break on a Gab Major deflection into the net, to tighten it to a one-goal game and nearly equalized it moments later, but Jecko again came up big for the Orange, stopping a point-blank shot to preserve the Orange lead.

However, with 14 minutes left to play, the Tar Heels' Malin Evert broke through the 'Cuse defense and tallied a shot into the upper-left corner past a sprawling Jecko, but the Orange wouldn't let the momentum swing continue.

Zoe Wilson netted her first-career goal off a pass from Lies Lagerweij following an Orange corner to give the Orange the lead with inside of 12 minutes to go.

After North Carolina pulled its goalkeeper, Syracuse capitalized with Emma Lamison finishing a pass from Russell at the near post to go up two goals. Russell's helper ended her career with 140 points, making her the all-time program leader in points.

The Tar Heels kept the pressure up, drawing a penalty stroke in the waning moments, but Jecko came up big again, denying Nina Notman's stroke and giving the Orange a 4-2 win in the title game.

Seniors Alyssa Manley, Jecko, Fenne and freshman Zoe Wilson earned the All-Tournament team honors in the win.

The National Championship is the second in as many days for the Orange, which saw the men's cross country team capture the National Championship on Saturday.