Initially Syracuse field hockey coach Kathleen Parker was unprepared – for her own players.

With only nine players on the field, and only three of them regular starters because of a violation in team policy, Parker wasn’t expecting much – and didn’t get it. Boston College beat SU, 1-0, in the semifinal of the Big East tournament at Coyne Field.

BC takes on Connecticut, which won 2-1 over Villanova, for the championship game Sunday at noon on Coyne Field. The winner receives an automatic bid in the NCAA tournament, which begins Nov. 13.

After Kerri Doughtery’s goal 9:37 into the contest, the Eagles held the lead with ease. But holding SU, itself, was challenging enough. With the season on the line, the Orange gutted it out in the last 10 minutes in hopes of scoring by intercepting passes and leading fast breaks to create penalty corners. Anything that would result in a goal.

‘I’m not sure any of us anticipated we would be at that point,’ Parker said. ‘That was one thing we didn’t ever discuss as far as our strategy. You reach that point. And then it’s like, ‘Why not take a chance?”

SU took it, and it was effective. But not effective enough to tie the game or take the lead. The Orange drew one penalty corner and had zero shots on goal.

With only nine players and no substitutions, SU had little room for error and a limited tank.

‘When I watch that, sometimes looking back, I might think, ‘Gosh maybe we could’ve been a little bit more aggressive during the game,” Parker said. ‘But I do think had we taken that approach, we would’ve tired out. We were trying to conserve as much energy as we could.’

Parker’s idea was to play a defensive, sometimes conservative, game, with its effective zone, making it difficult for BC to penetrate inside the shooter’s circle to create quality shots. With exception to Doughtery’s goal, the plan worked.

Redshirt freshman Marie O’Brien showcased an impressive display with nine saves and, at times, posed as a Betsy Wagner counterpart. The defensive backs also did their part to clear the Eagle forwards trying to plow through the attack circle.

‘You never know what people can do unless you give them an opportunity to do it,’ Parker said. ‘Coaches kind of get in a rut. They think, ‘Oh, well only starters can do this.’ Sometimes you (need) to give somebody a chance and see what they can do.’

Published on November 6, 2004 at 12:00 pm