Miami football. Connecticut women’s basketball. Syracuse field hockey.

What do these three teams have in common?

They all were Big East champions last year and face the task of repeating.

After a dream year, which included a run to the NCAA quarterfinals, the Orangewomen know they are now the hunted.

‘We have a target on our back,’ senior Michelle Marks said. ‘We won last year, and we want to keep it. But every team is out to get us.’

Marks — who earned second-team All Big East honors last year — was fourth on the team with nine points and is part of an experienced midfield that includes second-team All-American Kristin Aronowicz, who led the squad in scoring last season.

The senior was named the 2001 Big East Offensive Player of the Year after collecting 17 goals and 37 points. Those 37 points put Aronowicz (76 career) in contention to set a new team record for career points. Julie Williamson and Yvonne Milionis hold the record with 94.

‘It’s an end result,’ Aronowicz said. ‘I don’t think it’s a big deal. I’m just looking to repeat what happened last year.’

Jackie Sheaffer rounds out the starting midfield. Her overtime goal against Villanova last year kept SU’s Big East record (5-0) untainted.

Behind the midfield, the defense returns three key starters from last year, including senior co-captain Becky Kohler.

Kohler, who began her career as a forward, switched to defense last year and was named first-team All-Big East.

‘Winning last year adds a little more pressure to us,’ Kohler said. ‘In previous years, it was nice having the underdog feeling. But now we have a lot more pressure on our shoulders.’

Senior Missy Grosman and sophomore Lindsay Kocher both started every game on a defense that yielded the lowest goals-against-average in Big East play last season.

They will play in front of senior goaltender Audrey Latsko — a third team All-American in 2000 — and junior Betsy Wagner.

Latsko (.792 save percentage, 1.57 goals-against average) started the first 12 games last year, as SU jumped out to a 10-2 record. She was an instrumental part of Syracuse’s postseason run, including a shutout in the Big East championship game against Villanova.

Wagner (.875 save percentage, 0.97 GAA) appeared in six games last season and will vie for playing time.

‘We have a lot of confidence in both of them,’ said forward Ann-Marie Guglieri. ‘Both are great goalies. You couldn’t ask for anything more.’

Guglieri is the only returning starter among forwards. She burst on the scene season last year, tallying 21 points, which ranked third on the team.

Fellow sophomores Brittany Carriero (three goals, one assist) and Meredith Gettel (seven points) figure to fill the open spots at forward.

Gettel’s goal with under four minutes left against California in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament saved the Orangewomen from an early exit. It preceded a game-winning, overtime goal from Aronowicz.

‘They paid their dues last year, and they know the system,’ Guglieri said. ‘They have offensive-oriented minds, and they’re going to have great seasons.’

Published on September 2, 2002 at 12:00 pm