By Olson Bathelemy

How exactly would the Pride field hockey team rebound after losing in heart breaking fashion to ninth ranked Boston College on Sept. 10? That was the question on everyone’s mind as the Pride prepared to host Syracuse University at James Shuart Stadium on Sunday. Would the Pride still be suffering a hangover from the defeat a mere week earlier, especially after having held the lead with just eight minutes left in regulation? Or would the Blue & Gold shake off the disappointment and win on its home field?Seven days earlier, field hockey found themselves on the road at BC, holding a lead (earned by a late tip in goal by Kathy Davidson off of a Pemba Ramdoo pass) with approximately eight minutes remaining in the game. A win against the Eagles would have be monumental for the Pride who had previously come off a 3-1 victory against the Black Bears of Maine two days earlier.So it is understandable the disappointment the Pride experienced as they not only watched a 1-0 lead turn into a tie late in regulation, but they were beaten in overtime on a penalty stroke goal by BC’s Bob Dirks. With the opportunity to beat such a highly ranked opponent gone to the wayside, the Pride was motivated to bounce back strong against the Orange. With the loss to the Eagles still fresh on their minds, the Pride players came out strong against the Orange, scoring first as senior Kara McEneaney set up fellow senior Leslie DeSimone for a goal. The Pride then extended its lead to 2-0 as Pemba Ramdoo scored off of a pass from senior midfielder Doni-Melissa Jantzen. The Orange answered back in the 50th minute on an Allison Babbitt goal to cut the deficit in half. McEneaney, effectively removing any suspense from the affair, added a goal to her previous assist in the 57th minute to extend the lead to the eventual final score of 3-1. Despite the win against the Orange, however, the Pride dropped back to No. 19 in the polls after having climbed one position to 18th after splitting the matches between Maine and Boston College. Hofstra, coming off a 5-3 loss to Quinnipiac yesterday, will begin conference play at the University of Delaware on Sunday.