Syracuse rises to No. 14, Sarah Luby wins ACC offensive player of the week
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Sarah Luby scored two goals this week, one in each of the Orange's home victories over Wake Forest and Cornell. Elizabeth Billman | Asst. Photo Editor
After notching victories over No. 20 Wake Forest and Cornell last weekend, Syracuse (11-5, 2-3 Atlantic Coast) rose one spot to No. 14 in the weekly NFHCA/Penn Monto Division I Coaches Poll rankings. Junior Sarah Luby was also named ACC offensive player of the week after she scored a goal against both the Demon Deacons and Big Red.
Against Wake Forest, Syracuse jumped out to a quick two-goal lead before the Demon Deacons launched a two-minute comeback to tie the game. Luby scored SU’s second goal after separating from traffic in front of the cage and knocking a shot past WFU’s Isla Bint. As the third quarter reached the midway point, SJ Quigley and Laura Graziosi both scored within a two-minute span too, regaining the Orange’s two-goal lead.
The same offensive attack continued Sunday, when the Orange again jumped out to a 2-0 lead. This time, they withstood a Cornell comeback and avenged a Sept. 7 loss to the Big Red in Ithaca, New York. Luby’s second goal of the weekend came when she corralled the ball and weaved through a pair of Cornell defenders, positioning herself for an open shot at the net.
Syracuse concludes its regular season at No. 5 Louisville (14-3, 3-2) on Saturday, before directing attention toward postseason play. SU — who currently sits fifth in the ACC, but holds the eighth-best RPI in the country — lost to the Cardinals 3-2 in overtime last year.