Ange Bradley didn’t see the No. 1 ranking for her team coming – literally.

While the Syracuse field hockey head coach was viewing game film on No. 9 Connecticut Tuesday morning she received an e-mail on her Blackberry regarding the team’s new No. 1 status, but couldn’t read it because the screen was too small.

‘No I didn’t find out right away,’ Bradley said laughing. ‘I was home preparing for practice. We were out last night as a staff putting a game plan together, so I was doing my thing, but around 11 a.m. or 12 p.m. I saw an e-mail and I can’t really see that well from my Blackberry so (assistant coach) Guy (Cathro) texted me. Then I started getting a couple other texts from other people.’

Bradley and her team made history Tuesday, becoming the first Syracuse women’s team to reach No. 1 in the polls in any sport. The ranking also represents the highest a Syracuse field hockey team has been ranked since 1993, when the Orange finished the season at No. 9.

‘I’m so happy,’ sophomore back Maggie Befort said. ‘Other people have recognized how hard we’ve worked to be where we are. I let the moment sit a little, but it’s really back to here, back to practicing, and back to SU hockey.’

While in class, Befort’s phone lit up from receiving a text message.

‘I was in class and my dad texted me saying ‘No.1 in the country’ and I let it sit for a second, I really enjoyed the moment,’ Befort said.

But just letting the good news sit was a little hard for the sophomore.

‘I just kind of let out a little shriek,’ she said. Gesturing that she received some stares from unknowing classmates.

But the ranking represents more than just numbers for the Orange, it serves as a symbol of the team’s arrival on the national scene.

What was once a group of 18th-ranked underdogs, working quietly and under the radar, is now one of the most feared teams in all of field hockey, not to mention the only undefeated team left in Division I.

The Orange practices are now under the watchful eye of the local media, as well as a steadily increasing fan base that has come to see the dominant squad. SU has broken two single-game scoring records this season, on top of the school’s single-season goal-scoring record.

‘I think it’s that we’re finally getting the respect that’s deserved,’ senior midfielder Shannon Taylor said. ‘I mean we’re out here everyday working our (butts) off and it’s great to know that the community is behind us, being able to get the recognition from our school.’

Taylor admits while the recognition is great, it has put her in some awkward situations.

During a Spanish class, Taylor’s teacher called her out in front of all her peers.

‘My Spanish teacher called me out last week and embarrassed me and said ‘Talk in Spanish about your team!’ and I said ‘No, not in Spanish, but maybe in English!

‘It was hard for me in Spanish,’ Taylor joked. ‘But it’s just awesome knowing that our teachers are supporting us, too.’Befort noticed an increase in school-wide support as well. While walking around the L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Link Hall, the engineering major saw clippings of the field hockey team next to the works of other engineers, physicians and mathematicians.

‘Everybody’s hearing about it, everybody’s reaching out and all kind of want a piece of the action,’ Befort said.

But Bradley is determined not to let the No. 1 ranking go to her team’s head, as the coach still maintains a hard-nosed work ethic during her weekly practices.

After a long Tuesday practice, the field hockey team ran back-and-forth across the turf at J.S. Coyne Stadium.

When asked why the team had to press so hard, Befort’s eyes widened.

‘These sprints were because we couldn’t find all the (practice) balls,’ she said. ‘I mean they’re like 11 or 12 bucks a piece.’ Bradley defended her sprint drill with a smile.

‘Yeah, I think we’re missing like five balls,’ she said. ‘But we’re competing, we’re pushing, (the team) brought it to practice and they know hard work is what it’s going to take.’

ctorr@syr.edu

Published on October 16, 2008 at 12:00 pm