Relegated to the bench for the first time in nearly a year, Leann Stiver watched from the sidelines as Sophia Openshaw jogged out toward the net.

SU’s mainstay in goal was replaced Sunday after starting the previous 19 games. And she was replaced by a freshman in Openshaw who did not have any collegiate experience.

‘(Openshaw) earned the position at practice,’ SU head coach Ange Bradley said. ‘The last two days we had competition and Sophia won the competition, so she earned the starting job.’

The competition was exclusively between Stiver and Openshaw. Rachel Sayer, who appeared to be the second-string goalkeeper, was sick and unable to participate, Bradley said. And in her opportunity, Openshaw notched a 3-0 shutout over Columbia. So as Syracuse (11-2, 3-0 Big East) moves forward, it appears the starting position remains up for grabs.

On Friday, Syracuse hosts Georgetown, and Bradley said she will choose her starting goalkeeper based on how the trio performs in this week of practice once again.

‘It depends on Tuesday’s practice and Wednesday’s and Thursday’s practices as to who’s going to win the job starting Friday night,’ Bradley said.

Openshaw was the only goalie to play in Sunday’s game. Stiver and Sayer were unavailable for comment after Sunday’s game.

Despite the change, Stiver had shown few signs of weakness prior to the game against Columbia. She is 9-2 this season with 34 saves and 11 goals allowed. She has five shutouts, one of which is a combined shutout with Sayer.

She’s rarely been caught out of position for the Orange and maintains focus in net despite not facing many shots from opponents.

Leading Boston University 1-0 with seven minutes left in the first half earlier this season, Stiver made one of her more impressive saves. A Terriers midfielder knocked a through ball up the middle of the SU defense from the midfield line. Stiver instinctively leapt out of net and sprinted toward the top of the shooting circle.

She beat BU forward Tabi Hatch to the ball, kicking it to the left and avoiding a collision.

Stiver has shown that poise fairly consistently throughout this season, but her 1.26 goals-against average is slightly higher than her mark of 1.17 last season. And in SU’s two losses this season, Stiver has made just 17 saves while allowing five total goals.

Perhaps that’s why Bradley thought a change was in order.

‘These are a series of games where we’re able to give people a little bit of a different role on the team,’ SU assistant Steve Simpson said. ‘And it doesn’t mean this about this player or that about the other player. It’s just a chance for us to do something.’

Prior to the Columbia game, Openshaw had yet to see collegiate action. The Lions did not test her heavily, only managing three shots over the course of the game. But Openshaw maintained her concentration while the Orange was in possession.

She showed few signs of anxiety by making an early kick save just five minutes into the game, and she appeared ready on CU’s two second-half penalty corners. Openshaw controlled the ‘adrenaline rush’ and ‘beating of your heart’ that can’t be felt in practice situations, Simpson said.

‘I just made sure I stayed focused when we had the ball and made sure I knew where all the opposing players were,’ Openshaw said.

In Simpson’s mind, this early experience is incredibly important for her confidence and growth moving forward, especially as just a freshman.

But with another week of competition, it is possible Openshaw’s stint between the pipes may be short-lived. Especially considering Sayer, who also appeared in three games last year, is likely to get thrown back into the mix following her illness.

Regardless of who ends up as the starter, having depth at the position is important, Bradley said. If one of the goalkeepers does go down late in the season, she wants the backups to be prepared for action.

And in her first chance, Openshaw shined.

‘She just has to have a chance to get the mindset that I am a player at Syracuse University,’ Simpson said. ‘If you’re always back somewhere on the bench you’re never going to get that day where it’s about you and where you have to produce.’

sebail01@syr.edu

Published on October 10, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Stephen: sebail01@syr.edu | @Stephen_Bailey1