With the departure of Syracuse career saves leader Eliza Bennett-Hattan at the end of the 2009 season, the SU women’s soccer team was left with an empty net.

Six games into the 2010 season, the net is still not inhabited by one sole starter. Two players are vying to become Bennett-Hattan’s replacement. The competition is ongoing between freshman Brittany Anghel and sophomore Erin Quinlan.

‘Obviously it’s been up in the air right now for whoever is going to come in and earn that spot and make it their own,’ SU assistant coach Katie Ely said. ‘Obviously when you lose a four-year starter, that spot is open for whoever wants it.’

With the two, the net is not solidified. But Orange head coach Phil Wheddon is not worried regarding his goalie by committee.

Anghel and Quinlan have started games for Syracuse (1-3-2) early this season, creating the current uneasy decision-making process for Wheddon.

‘They’re both doing very well,’ Wheddon said. ‘They’ve made key saves when we needed them to make key saves. We’re still looking to see who’s going to win the race, if you will. But they’re both working very hard, and I’m very proud of their effort so far.’

At this point, Wheddon is debating whether or not to stick with his goalie platoon throughout the rest of the season.

Wheddon does not appear ready to choose one goalie over the other. Anghel has been the only one to win a game, but also has a goal against average of 1.89, which is a point higher than Quinlan’s 0.9.

Anghel struggled this weekend, giving up seven goals on 17 shots on goal against quality opponents Washington and No. 4 Portland.

‘We want someone to take charge, be a leader back there,’ Ely said. ‘Organize our defenders. Help us in the counterattack, and their distribution, whether it’s from their hands or their feet.’

The stat line is always at the forefront of a team’s successes and failures. With Anghel and Quinlan, the coaches are looking for statistical improvement as the learning curve takes its course. That learning curve continues for the two young goalies. And the stats tell a part of their story.

Anghel has started in four of the six games for the Orange, posting a 1-2-1 record.

Quinlan made her debut during Syracuse’s opening game against William & Mary on Aug. 20, giving up just one goal but losing a 1-0 decision. She has a 0-1-1 record in her first two games.

‘They’re a little nervous, obviously, and the pace of the game and decision making needs to be very, very quick on the collegiate level,’ Wheddon said. ‘I think they both had an adjustment period, but hopefully that period is over, and they can settle down and play.’

Senior forward Megan Bellingham sees the position battle as an opportunity for players to maximize their potential. With a replacement lurking, the player — in this case, the goalie — cannot get comfortable. The player must continually strive for better.

‘You have to strive to push the person in front of you, even if you’re not going to make the field,’ Bellingham said. ‘That’s what makes a good team great.’

The coaches may not like having to decide which candidate comes away with the starting job. The choice may give the team a different look, but it affects the efforts of the players, as well.

The Syracuse coaching staff now has the difficult task of choosing the right fit, but it may be for the team’s benefit.

No matter how long it takes.

‘Both of them worked really hard this summer and put in a lot of time and effort through the preseason,’ Ely said. ‘It’s been a good competition, definitely. It makes my job, Phil’s job, everyone’s job hard, to try and decide who it’s going to be.’

adtredin@syr.edu

Published on September 7, 2010 at 12:00 pm