Orange Wrap Up Opening Weekend With Win

Sunday, August 31

Syracuse, N.Y.

1 p.m.

Syracuse University

(2-0)

Fairfield

(0-2)

Fairfield

Syracuse

8/31/2025 4:04:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score Photo Gallery

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Two up, two down for the Syracuse University field hockey program as the No. 11 Orange picked up a 5-2 win over visiting Fairfield to complete opening weekend at J.S. Coyne Stadium with a 2-0-0 record.

Bo van Kempen picked up another hat trick, including a penalty stroke goal once again. Liz Stange logged a goal and two assists while Pat Strunk inserted two penalty corners that led to assists. Lieke Leeggangers accounted for the fifth Syracuse goal.

Fairfield (0-2-0) scored twice on penalty corner situations, once from Pilar Mengotti and against from Kaelyn Fogelson. Payton Rahn made six saves in goal for the Stags Sunday afternoon.

How it Happened

Stange got the scoring started in the third minute as she banged home a high tipped pass from Hattie Madden on the doorstep. Four minutes later the battery of Strunk, Stange, and van Kempen connected in succession to double the Syracuse lead at 2-0.
The Orange tallied another two goals in the second corner as Leeggangers hammered a shot from the top of the circle that was initially stopped by Rahn but momentum from the shot carried it off the blocker pad and into the goal. Van Kempen converted her second penalty stroke in as many games for a 4-0 lead just before halftime.
Fogelson was the first opponent to crack the Orange backline this year, controlling a loose shot after a penalty corner shot was initially blocked. Fogelson snapped a 94 minute scoreless run for 'Cuse opponents to start the season.
Syracuse went back up by four in the 38th minute as the same penalty corner unit of Strunk, Stange, and van Kempen connected for a 5-1 lead.
Fairfield got its second goal of the game in the 41st minute as Mengotti benefited from a short-sided corner inset from Pifferi for her first goal of the season.
Neither team found the back of the net over the final 19 minutes of the game.

Behind the Number

Van Kempen scored her second hat trick in as many contests after putting up six goals Friday night against Lock Haven. Strunk brought her season assist total to eight through two games with her pair on Sunday. Stange notched her first career goal for the Orange on Sunday and was credited with the game-winning goal.
Jesse Eiselin and Tane King split time in goal for the Orange. Eiselin took the cage in the first and third periods while King suited up for the second and fourth periods.
Syracuse out-shot the Stags 19-4, including 11 shots on goal. The Orange quadrupled the Fairfield corner production as Syracuse put 12 corners into play.
The Orange improved to 3-0 all-time against Fairfield as the teams met for the first time in over two decades.

Up Next for Syracuse

The Orange hit the road for the first time this season as Syracuse gears up for the ACC/Big ten Challenge.
Syracuse opens next weekend against No. 16 Rutgers on Friday in Columbus, Ohio. First pushback is scheduled for 1 p.m.
On Sunday, Syracuse concludes the ACC/Big Ten Challenge against No. 13 Ohio State with a 2 p.m. game at Buckeye Varsity Field.