Syracuse Anticipates Home Openers On Softer AstroTurf®

The Daily Orange
Written by Josh Friedman
September 9, 2005

The Syracuse field hockey team may be playing its first home series this weekend, but it might feel like another road game. That's because the Orange will be playing for the first time on its new field, where it has only practiced a couple of times.

Syracuse plays Kent State today at 3 p.m. and William and Mary on Sunday at 1 p.m., looking to move above .500 after starting the season 1-2. How much the new field will help is unclear, but it's certain to help keep Syracuse healthier throughout the year.

"It feels so much better," sophomore forward Jessica Lerew said. "It gives more. There's not as much pounding in our legs."

Head coach Kathleen Parker said the new AstroTurf® will help more in practice because, when watered correctly, it will prevent a lot of balls from taking awkward hops as it did on the old, hard surface.

But with limited practice on the new field, the Orange's two games this weekend may just as well be on the road, since both Kent State and William and Mary will have roughly the same amount of time on the field as Syracuse.

"It's the same thing as going to another school and playing an away game and getting a feel for the turf," Lerew said.

"The first time practicing, I was watching the water spats, not the ball," freshman goalie Heather Hess said.
The team Syracuse fields against the Golden Flashes is another issue. Hess said it'll be a game time decision as to whether or not she will start at goalie. The other option for SU is sophomore Marie O'Brien, who started the opening game of the year against Pacific. Hess made her first collegiate start in SU's 3-2 overtime victory over Stanford and also started in SU's 3-1 loss against California.

"I was surprised (to get the start)," Hess said. "I didn't expect to start, (or) even play."

Parker said each game Syracuse played on its California swing was an improvement. She hopes that trend continues over the weekend.

"We are looking to keep improving on the things we have control over," Parker said. "I don't want to sit here and tell you that we are going to be one and whatever. All we have control over is what we have to work on and whether we improve enough to beat Kent (State) and William and Mary."