April 11, 1998

Notre Dame Drops 20-9 Decision to Syracuse

NOTRE DAME, Ind. -- Erica Hofmann and Jenna Szyluk combined for 11 goals as Syracuse won its fifth straight game to improve to 7-2 with a 20-9 victory over Notre Dame, which fell to 6-4. The 20 goals were the most given up by the Irish in 1998.

The Orangewomen, who headed into the contest as the nation's top scoring team with over 17 goals per game, outscored the Irish 11-2 in the final 20 minutes of the first half to break open a tight contest. Syracuse held Notre Dame scoreless for more than 27 minutes and never let up on a 14-4 halftime advantage.

Kerry Callahan scored four times for Notre Dame and also dished off an assist.

Szyluk netted five of Syracuse's 14 goals in the first half. She opened up the scoring by putting the Orangewomen up 1-0 just 49 seconds into the contest. Callahan tied the game at 1-1 with 27:54 remaining on a free position goal. Back-to-back goals by Szyluk and Katrina Hable gave Syracuse a 3-1 advantage, but then Callahan's goal with 20:53 pulled the Irish to within one at 3-2.

Syracuse scored three unanswered goals to grab a 6-2 advantage before Callahan's third goal cut the deficit to 6-3 with 16:32 left before intermission. Courtney Calabrese pulled the Irish to within two at 6-4 as she took a Maura Doyle feed and put it past goalkeeper Clo Ewing, but Syracuse responded with seven goals for the 14-7 halftime lead.

The Orangewomen netted to the first three goals of the second half, all by Hofmann, before Lael O'Shaughnessy scored the first of her three goals with 19:13 remaining in the contest to end the 11-goals Syracuse scoring barrage.

The 20 goals were the second most ever given up by a Notre Dame women's lacrosse team.

The Irish return to action next Friday, April 17 when they travel to Storrs, Conn. for a 3:00 p.m. contest against the Huskies.