Women's Soccer

Syracuse women’s soccer freshman Taylor Bennett carves out role as free-kick specialist

Jessica Sheldon | Photo Editor

Freshman Taylor Bennett has emerged as a contributor for the Orange despite her college career being just six games old.

With the game on the line, Phil Wheddon could’ve gone with senior Stephanie Skilton, who has led the team in scoring each of the last three years, to take the free kick. He could’ve picked junior Eva Gordon, who had scored Syracuse’s one goal earlier in the game. Or senior Maddie Iozzi, who takes the Orange’s corner kicks.

But instead, Wheddon chose freshman Taylor Bennett, who had just four games and six shots to in her collegiate career coming into the game.

The Orange (4-1-1) was down, 2-1, to Bucknell with fewer than 15 minutes left in the game. Bennett struck the ball clean, blasting a shot past Bucknell goalkeeper Jessica Ratner and off the crossbar, straight up and harmlessly out of play.

Bennett missed the shot, but she has been in positions to contribute early and often during her brief college career. She’s started all six of SU’s games this season and is tied for the team lead with two assists, despite traditionally being at the other end of the field as a center back. Bennett also has one goal and is tied for the team lead in points with three other players. She’s developed a specialty as the Orange’s free-kick taker.

“You come in expecting to be able to contribute to the team,” Bennett said, “but as a freshman you are mentally saying, ‘Alright maybe I’ll take a year on the bench, you never know,’ so I was very excited to come in and see that I can play.”



Bennett has six shots on free kicks this season. Two hit the crossbar, one went high, one went wide and one was blocked.

The other, fired from about 35 yards away against Albany on Aug. 28, flew over the wall and the goalie’s outstretched arms for Bennett’s only goal of the season.

“That’s in my range and I have a pretty long shot,” Bennett said, “and we knew coming in if we put things on frame we’d get opportunities so that’s what I was told to do and we executed.”

Bennett’s teammates knew she had “strong kick,” but Iozzi didn’t know how consistent it would be around the box. Despite being put in the pressure situations, Bennett doesn’t appear to be nervous on the field like most freshmen, Iozzi said.

Against Delaware on Aug. 21, one of her free kicks off the crossbar ricocheted to a teammate, who was able to knock it in for a goal.

“We know she can hit a great ball,” Iozzi said. “All she needs to do is aim low and she’ll have a good shot on net. … She’s been a good impact player”

Wheddon was hoping that Bennett would be able to assume free kick responsibilities in her debut season, but it was a wish more than an expectation.

“Taylor came in and has been given an opportunity to play and has run with it,” Wheddon said. “She serves a great ball and has a very, very dangerous shot, so as far as production goes, I think it’s great for us.”





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