Three minutes into Thursday night’s match against North Carolina State, forward Sydney Brackett curled a corner kick into the net to give SU a 1-0 lead. It was the Orange’s first lead since Sept. 13 when Kate Hostage scored the lone goal in its 2-1 double overtime loss to Kent State.

SU maintained the lead for seven minutes.

In the previous three games, with Hostage sidelined due to a left ankle injury, SU netted zero goals and lost three games. Although Hostage’s presence in the attacking third sparked a three-goal performance, the team’s highest output of the season, the Orange (3-10, 0-5 Atlantic Coast) extended its losing streak to eight games with the 6-3 loss to No. 23 NC State (9-3-2, 2-2-1).

“I’m very happy that Kate was on the field,” head coach Phil Wheddon said. “She gave us a spark here and there and I’m looking forward to see her play for the rest of the season.”

Trailing 2-1 in the 20th minute, SU connected on one of their most creative combinations of the night. By midfield, Mackenzie Vlachos slid the ball to Sydney Brackett on the sideline, who tapped it to Georgia Allen. Allen took a touch and then sent Hostage behind the defense with a perfectly placed through ball, but NC State’s keeper, Sydney Wootten, cut down the angle before Hostage could rip a good shot.

Again, in the 46th minute, Hostage took one too many touches in the box. After winning a 50/50 ball off a throw-in, Hostage lost control of her dribble before she could shoot.

“I mean I can’t make any excuses for my play,” Hostage said. “Everyone has their own kind of injuries. That was just my bad. I should’ve been playing quicker and getting ahead earlier.”

Hostage added she has to “push through and take my rest when I have it.”

In the 63rd minute, Hostage carried the ball, hesitated, and used her speed along the sideline. She beat one Wolfpack defender but another defender converged and she lost the ball, crashing in the process. Hostage came up limping but remained in the game.

Hostage started and played 54 minutes. Wheddon’s goal was to ease her back so she can regain her rhythm, he said. Hostage leads the team with four goals. Brackett is next on the team with two goals and two assists.

SU’s last win came on Sept. 2 when they beat Northeastern 1-0 in Boston. Its last ACC win was on Oct. 11 of last year when they beat Miami 1-0. In the past two seasons, SU is 2-11-2 in conference play.

Published on October 4, 2018 at 10:51 pm

Contact Danny: dremerma@syr.edu | @DannyEmerman