The PA announcer’s voice echoed through J. S. Coyne Stadium.

“In the goal for Syracuse – Emma Likly,” the announcer said.

It was the start of the second half and for the first time this season, someone other than Borg van der Velde was in the cage for the Orange.

The change came after a poor performance to start the game. Syracuse (5-3, 0-2 Atlantic Coast) struggled in the first half against Pacific (6-4), allowing both shots into the goal. But after the switch, SU came out stronger the second half of its 3-2 overtime win over Pacific. It kept the Tigers to just three shots in the second half and overtime, one less than the first half.

“Aggression, desire, passion, heart was missing the first half,” SU head coach Ange Bradley said. “They found a way the second half and I’m proud of them for that.”

One week after having a career day, van der Velde had her worst half of the season. For the first time this season, the sophomore didn’t record a save. She let in two goals, both off penalty corners scored by senior forward Kriekie van Wyk.

Letting in two goals on two shots was “completely unacceptable,” Bradley said and caused her to make the goalie adjustment. With a minute left in the first half, she told Likly to get warmed up.

Prior to Friday’s game, Likly had only made a handful of appearances including the second half of the 3-0 shutout against UC Davis in August 2017 as well as the last four minutes of the 4-0 shutout over Drexel last October. This was her first time entering a game Syracuse was losing.

“I was excited to get in,” Likly said, “excited to have the opportunity to play and do what I needed to do for the team to get it done.”

Likly had one save to help SU shut out the Tigers in the second half. van Wyk took the ball downfield with two SU players on her. As the Pacific forward reached the top of the circle, Likly ran out and kicked the ball in the other direction. It was her first career save.

Likly’s inclusion wasn’t the only change SU made during halftime. Bradley said her team put more pressure on the ball in front and in the midfield, putting Pacific’s backs under pressure. The Tigers struggled to get out of the backfield, forcing them to cover a larger distance to score.

“The way we came out in the second half should be how we come out every game,” senior Roos Weers said. “I think we picked it up very well but the way we came out in the first half was unacceptable.”

Weers said SU needed to fix numerous parts of its first half execution: defense, offense, corners and more. When SU faced a penalty corner in the second half, they didn’t fare the same as the first half. Syracuse’s defense stepped up and kept the ball from even reaching Likly.

As for Sunday’s game, Bradley said that she isn’t sure whether van der Velde or Likly will start. Saturday’s practice will help decide that.

After Weers scored her game-winning goal in overtime, she walked over to Likly and draped her arm over the goalie’s shoulder. She shouted into Likly’s ear — in the postgame press conference she wouldn’t reveal what was said — and the two walked off the field together.

Published on September 21, 2018 at 10:42 pm

Contact Kaci: klwasile@syr.edu