Field hockey takes 2 in East Lansing, Cross country sweeps Harry Lang Invitational

Syracuse swept a pair of games in East Lansing, Mich., during the weekend. The No. 5 Orange (4-0) remained undefeated after beating Michigan State on Friday and Kent State on Sunday.

It started on Friday, when SU shut out the Spartans 4-0. Sophomore goalie Jess Jecko had her first career shutout, recording one save in the victory. On offense the Orange spread the wealth, as four different players scored in the win. Emma Russell scored first for the Orange in the 22nd minute, her third goal of the season.

Leonie Geyer, Lauren Brooks and Karlee Farr also added goals. For freshman Farr, it was her first collegiate goal.

The Orange carried the momentum from Friday’s victory into Sunday, defeating the Golden Flashes 6-2. Less than five minutes in, Kent State took an early lead on a Karleigh Carlin goal. But Syracuse responded with a vengeance. The Orange scored five unanswered goals to silence any doubts of defeat.

The game’s hero was Brooks, who recorded her first career hat trick. Brooks scored the tying goal in the 29th minute. After halftime, the Orange exploded on offense. Within the first 7:15 of the half, the Orange dropped three goals on the Golden Flashes. Brooks scored two of the three goals in the SU rally.

Syracuse attacked Kent State with a barrage of shots, outshooting the Golden Flashes 24-8.

The Orange opens its home schedule on Friday against No. 14 Massachusetts at J.S. Coyne Stadium.

Cross country

Syracuse opened the season with a sweep at the Harry Lang Invitational in Hamilton, N.Y. The women’s team took first place, and the men’s team split into A and B teams, which took the top two spots. The Orange also accounted for the top 11 spots on the men’s side, and all finished within 10 seconds of one another.

Juris Silenkis took the top spot, followed by Robert Molke and Martin Hehir. Reed Kamyszek and Joe Whelan rounded out the top five.

SU’s A team finished with a team score of 15, the best possible at the event.

On the women’s side, Syracuse placed six of the top eight finishers, including winner Margot Malone. Brianna Nerud took third place and Jesse Peterson finished in fifth.

The Orange next competes on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Dartmouth Invitational in Hanover, N.H.

—Compiled by Danny Cuneo, staff writer, and David Wilson, sports editor