Skilton-Lamontagne combo sparks Syracuse to hot 2nd-half in 4-0 win against UMass-Lowell

HAMILTON, N.Y. — Syracuse needed a jolt. The Orange led UMass-Lowell by one goal at halftime, but had failed to finish its numerous attacks.

“There are a couple things that I cannot repeat, but I basically told them that we are so much better than what we’re showing,” SU head coach Phil Wheddon said. “The final pass was very poor.”

SU turned to its leading goal-scorer from 2013, Stephanie Skilton. And within five minutes of the break, Wheddon’s speech had been answered with two Skilton goals as the Orange (2-1-2) came alive behind the budding forward tandem of Skilton and Alex Lamontagne to beat UMass-Lowell (2-3) 4-0 on Friday afternoon at Beyer-Small ‘76 Field in the first game of the Colgate Nike Classic.

“The build up play for those goals was fantastic and very cool, calm finishes as well,” Wheddon said. “So to get those two goals in the first 10 minutes of the second half, you can’t ask for more.”

Syracuse began stringing multiple passes together when pressuring the River Hawks’ goal and played with a faster pace after halftime.

Skilton’s first goal, from six yards away, came off a give-and-go that she initiated with Lamontagne. For her second, Skilton received a pass from Lamontagne at the top of the 18-yard box, beat a defender and calmly slotted the ball into the far low corner.

The Orange’s play in the first 10 minutes of the second half was some of its best all season, Wheddon said.

After continuing to switch its forwards in the first half, the Orange stuck with Skilton and Lamontagne for the first 25 minutes of the second half. They worked off each other and continually found holes in the River Hawks’ defense. Lamontagne scored the fourth goal of the game in the 66th minute, which was assisted by Skilton.

Lamontagne and Skilton have developed a chemistry since Skilton returned from the Under-20 World Cup, where she represented New Zealand. Skilton plays closer to the midfield while Lamontagne uses her speed and athleticism to sneak behind defenders.

“It’s hard coming in and she’s a freshman, I’m a sophomore, obviously it’s hard to create that chemistry so quick,” Skilton said.

Despite the scoreline, SU was unhappy with its overall performance. Wheddon said it felt like a loss because Syracuse could have played better, faster and sooner.

Skilton said that SU played down to the River Hawks’ level and could have crushed them if it played to its full potential.

Jackie Firenze lasering the ball into the top right corner of the goal from 30 yards out was one of the few SU highlights in the first half. Unlike the goals in the second half, Firenze’s goal didn’t have any built-up passing.

“Us connecting and trying to finish kind of was one of the key things,” Lamontagne said of her play with Skilton. “So I felt like I really needed to make sure my passes were on point and my runs and her runs so we connected and we finished.”

Through just five games, Lamontagne is confident about the progression of her on-field relationship with Skilton.

Said Lamontagne: “It’s just going to go up from here.”