A team looking to secure their place in a stacked ACC.
Syracuse Orange field hockey was ranked fourth, tied with the University of Louisville, among the 9 teams featured in this year’s ACC preseason poll, and 10th overall according to the NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll.
Five of the top 10 nationally ranked teams heading into the 2024 season are in the ACC: North Carolina (No. 2), Virginia (No. 3), Duke (No. 5), Louisville (No. 7), and Syracuse (No. 10).
Last season, ‘Cuse reached their third consecutive quarterfinal appearance in the NCAA Tournament after finishing with an 11-8 regular season record.
Head Coach Lynn Farquhar spent four years with the Orange as an assistant coach from 2007-2010 before securing four A-10 Championships with the Saint Joseph’s University Hawks. She returns to for her second season leading Syracuse with a winning culture that has the respect of her peers and players alike.
“That program is just going to soar,” Sara Hayes, one of Farquhar’s former players said. “[Farquhar’s] just going to take that program to new heights. She’s creating her own legacy there . . .”
One key player this season is senior midfielder Willemijin Boogert. Boogert, hailing from the Netherlands, started in all 19 games last season and was named to the 2023 NFHCA Mideast All-Region First Team. She also finished with a career best six goals and six assists for 18 points. Her hustle in converting an impressive goal against the Virginia Cavaliers earned her a viral moment on social media.
“She has an eagerness to win,” said Boogert’s mother. “Where there’s a ball, there’s Willemijn.”
The Orange also return goalie Louise Pert who missed last season with injury and have added graduate student Bo van Kempen, another player from the Netherlands with international experience.
‘Cuse started this season on a high note, securing two preseason wins against Lock Haven and No. 16 Penn State with scores of 9-0 and 2-1, respectively. They play their first game of the regular season at home against No. 14 Ohio State today at noon.
Key matchups to look forward to include a game against No. 2 North Carolina on September 20 in Chapel Hill and an away game against No. 3 Virginia on October 18. The Orange will finish the season at home in the J.S. Coyne Stadium against No. 17 Boston College.