Kelzi Van Atta twirled her stick at the top of the eight-meter circle, waiting for the okay to make her move. She had just drawn a free position attempt, Syracuse’s fifth in the game’s first 16 minutes.

The team had struggled to make the most of great goal-scoring opportunities with one turnover, one shot off the post and two shots stopped with ease by Binghamton goalkeeper Erin McNulty.

Van Atta charged the net and fired off a shot past McNulty, giving SU a 2-0 lead. At the time, the goal looked to be the first of what seemed many Orange points and went uncelebrated as SU players routinely jogged to take their places for the ensuing draw.

But the game remained close to the final minutes and Van Atta’s accuracy and touch around the net on free-position opportunities led to three goals and a Syracuse victory.

“She stepped up big,” Kayla Treanor said. “I know two of (her three goals) were within eight meters and that’s big.”

The Orange defeated No. 12 Loyola (0-2), 17-6 in the first game of the doubleheader, but in the second game, SU head coach Gary Gait kept his two best attackers, Treanor and Halle Majorana, on the sideline. Van Atta poured in a team-leading three goals to help No. 3 Syracuse (2-0) defeat Binghamton (0-1) in its second contest, 9-6, Sunday night in the Carrier Dome.

With a little over 11 minutes remaining in the second game, Syracuse clung to a one-goal lead. Binghamton had been more efficient on offense and Syracuse had struggled to convert on eight-meter chances to that point.

Freshman Nicole Levy drew a Bearcat penalty within the circle and retreated to the eight-meter line for a free-position shot. She passed to Van Atta instead, cutting to the net on her left, but the pass went awry and Syracuse once again failed to score off a free position.

The referees whistled Binghamton’s Amanda Marsh for her second yellow card of the game, disqualifying her from returning to play. The penalty also gave Van Atta a chance for an eight-meter opportunity of her own.

Van Atta took the ball directly in front of the net and darted forward. She launched a shot past McNulty in net to increase SU’s lead to 7-5.

“We need people to step up and finish those big opportunities, especially when the game’s so close like that,” Treanor said. “Kelzi showed a lot of leadership tonight and put the ball away when it mattered.”

After Kelly Cross won the draw control immediately following the goal, Levy drew another free positon shot 32 seconds later. Rather than attack the net herself, as Van Atta had moments before, Levy drew a Binghamton defender with two quick strides into the circle before finding Van Atta streaking to the net.

Van Atta fired off another quick shot that found its mark, giving Syracuse a commanding three-goal lead with 10:23 remaining in the game.

Last season, Van Atta played midfield, notching two total shots in only four games played. But this season, Gait expects her to see more time at attack in relief of the team’s stars.

“She just played with confidence and poise… She took her time, she got in front and she took great shots,” Gait said. “… (She) took advantage of her opportunities and I was very happy with her play.”

“She took a step up today.”

Published on February 14, 2016 at 11:20 pm

Contact Liam: lpsull01@syr.edu