No. 3 Syracuse blew a two-goal lead and lost 4-3 to No. 5 Connecticut in the Big East tournament championship on Sunday at Trager Stadium in Louisville, Ky.

The top-seeded Orange took a two-goal lead early in the second half, but the Huskies scored three unanswered goals to avenge their regular-season loss to Syracuse on Oct. 27.

In the 15th minute, junior back Laura Hahnefeldt scored a goal off a penalty corner to put the Orange up 1-0. Less than six minutes later, Connecticut’s Erin Koonz dribbled through the SU defense and scored, knotting the game at one.

With less than two minutes remaining in the half, Hahnefeldt scored her second goal — off another penalty corner — and Syracuse retook the lead. Less than three minutes into the second half, midfielder Liz McInerney extended the Orange’s lead by knocking in a rebound.

In the 47th minute, Chloe Hunnable — who scored Connecticut’s two goals in the regular-season finale against Syracuse— found the back of the net to draw the Huskies within one.

Four minutes later, SU goalkeeper Leann Stiver saved the Huskies’ initial shot on a corner, but Katherine Baker got to the rebound and tied the game 3-3.

With 16 seconds left in the game, Hunnable took a pass from Marie Elena Bolles and scored the game-winner to complete the comeback.

Syracuse will look to redeem itself in the NCAA tournament, which starts next weekend. The seeding for the national tournament will be announced on Tuesday night.

— Compiled by Phil D’Abbraccio, staff writer, pmdabbra@syr.edu

Published on November 4, 2012 at 11:59 pm