SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The 15th-ranked Orange won its home opener for the third-consecutive season, posting a 19-6 victory against Albany. Four Syracuse players recorded at least three goals during the Orange offensive outburst.

Senior Jill DePetris (Radnor, Pa.) and freshman Christina Dove (Bel Air, Md.) led the Orange with four goals and five points each. DePetris matched career highs with her offensive showing and also contributed on the defensive side, setting a personal best with five caused turnovers.

Sophomore Katie Rowan (Delmar, N.Y.) and freshman Halley Quillinan (Glenmont, N.Y.) both added a hat trick and four points. Quillinan also contributed a team-best five draw controls. Senior Ashley Pike (Watertown, N.Y.) scored two goals, while seniors Gaddy Fortune (Long Branch, N.J.) and Melissa Pearsall (Cortland, N.Y.) and freshman Jackie DePetris (Radnor, Pa.) each added one goal.

Sophomore goalkeeper Amber Pardee-Hill (Lewiston, N.Y.) stopped nine shots in the cage, earning her first collegiate victory.

Both teams scored two-early goals but it was all Syracuse (1-1) after that point. Fortune caused an Albany turnover and then led the break and set up Dove for her second goal of the evening. That goal ignited an 8-0 run to end the half as the two schools headed into intermission with the Orange leading, 10-2.

The Orange dominated all aspects during the first half. Syracuse held the advantage in shots, 27-9 and in draw controls, 11-2 and forced 10 Great Danes turnovers while only committing four.

Syracuse continued its strong play in the second half, outscoring Albany, 9-4. Dove scored her fourth and final goal of the game with 21:19 remaining in the contest to give the Orange a 10-goal advantage and initiate the running clock.

Syracuse outshot the Great Danes (1-3), 43-21, and held the advantage in ground balls (25-21) and draw controls (16-11) during its home opener.

The Orange remains in Syracuse for its next game, competing against its second top-10 opponent of the season. SU welcomes No. 9 Virginia to the Carrier Dome on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

2007-03-01