Syracuse’s Quirine Comans taps in game-winning goal
Syracuse's Quirine Comans taps in game-winning goal
Syracuse forward Quirine Comans tapped in the game-winning goal Friday against No. 4 Louisville in the last five minutes of play.
There were less than five minutes to go in a tied contest when Orange forward Charlotte de Vries controlled a pass from midfielder Lieke Leeggangers and was off to the races on a breakaway with Comans. De Vries would get a rocket of a shot off, but the Cardinals’ keeper was on her mark and stopped it. However, Comans was there to tap it away and the No. 12 Orange took down the Cardinals by a score of 3-2.
“This is the best I have seen us play since probably our first weekend,” Syracuse head coach Ange Bradley said. “It was really awesome to see them bounce back after a really tough loss down in UNC and you know it shows them where we can be.”
The tough loss that Bradley is referring to happened one week ago when the Orange traveled down to Chapel Hill to play the No. 1 Tar Heels and came back 6-1 losers. The Orange’s response today was led by Comans who netted two goals to give her the team lead in goals (14) and points (35).
“One of our strengths is outlet and getting it to the offense,” Comans said. “We practiced that a lot this week and that is what worked well.”
QUIRINE COMANS!
Great transition from Charlotte followed by a GREAT rebound goal from Q!
💻 – @accnetwork Extra (https://t.co/2hnAmpgQVr)
📊 – https://t.co/WjIcD5lPDL🍊🏑🦈 x #lygc pic.twitter.com/c3viv6c9yw
— Syracuse Field Hockey (@CuseFH) October 21, 2022
The Orange’s other goal on the day came from the penalty corner when midfielder Willemijn Boogert made the insertion and the ball cycled back around to her with the final pass coming from Eefke van den Nieuwenhof. Boogert scored making the score tied 2-2 with 10 minutes remaining in the game.
This was Syracuse’s lone successful penalty corner, going 1-5 in the game.
“The inserts were definitely a little off tonight and when that happens everything else slows down,” Bradley said. “Just a couple of little things there, and we will get back to that tomorrow and refocus and get ready for Rutgers.”
The Orange’s traditionally stout defense, which has the joint lead of the nation with the Liberty Flames at nine shutouts, showcased lapses against Louisville. Their biggest lapse came after their first goal when less than two minutes later the defense conceded at home for the first time since Sep 16, against Duke.
Louisville grasped the lead 2-1 on a controversial penalty stroke that many in the crowd felt should not have been called, but the Orange couldn’t ask for a video referral because they had already lost it earlier in the contest.
“I think that we have very good players and the ability to go up, go down, and comeback,” said Bradley. “We have not really been in that situation this year and they handled it beautifully. I am really, really proud of them.”
What will most likely be the Orange’s final game at J.S. Coyne Stadium for the year will be held Sunday at noon, when the Orange take on No. 19 Rutgers. This will also be the Orange’s senior day where they will recognize the contributions of ten student-athletes to the program including the team’s top two scorers Comans and de Vries.
is a contributor for The NewsHouse.
