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Syracuse awaits NCAA tournament fate after 4-1 ACC tournament loss to Duke

Corey Henry | Staff Photographer

Syracuse lost to Duke at the ACC tournament on Thursday, meaning the Orange can only wait to learn their NCAA tournament fate on Sunday evening.

By Anthony Dabbundo

Syracuse entered Thursday’s ACC tournament first-round matchup against Duke likely needing a victory to continue its season.

Last time the conference foes met, Duke won at J.S. Coyne Stadium. SU failed to record a shot that day for the first time in 13 years.  

Within five minutes on Thursday afternoon, Duke scored, and the Orange never recovered. No. 3 Duke (15-4, 5-1 Atlantic Coast) scored two goals in the opening nine minutes, defeating No. 17 Syracuse (8-8, 1-5), 4-1, to advance to the ACC semifinals.

Before the game, Syracuse’s seniors, Jamie Martin, Caroline Cady and Roos Weers all stressed the implications of this game in Chapel Hill. All three agreed that a win against Duke, a team safely in the NCAA field, would give them a good chance at the NCAA tournament.

All three also agreed that a loss likely meant that Thursday’s game would be the final one of their careers.



“We need to focus on getting one more,” Martin said Tuesday. “If we lose Thursday, I think we’re done.”

Less than five minutes into the game, Duke’s Caroline Andretta corralled a pass from Erin Scherrer and finished her 12th goal of the season. Scherrer added a goal herself five minutes later to double the Blue Devils’ lead.

Duke continued its barrage of shots on goalie Borg van der Velde, until eventually, a third goal came. Sixteen minutes into the second half, Haley Schleicher converted a penalty stroke from a foul right in front of the SU goal.

Weers scored a goal of her own from the penalty spot eight minutes later but it was merely a consolation score.

On Duke’s 21st and final shot of the game, Rose Tynan capped off the four-goal outburst. The loss means that SU has now conceded at least three goals in its last four games.  

Syracuse is now forced to wait. Sunday night at 10 p.m., the NCAA tournament bracket will be revealed. It’s an 18-team field, with 10 automatic qualifiers. SU will have to hope it’s one of the eight at-large teams.





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