PROVIDENCE, R.I. - For the second consecutive year the top-seeded Syracuse Orange advanced to the BIG EAST Championship final after defeating fourth-seeded Providence 2-1. SU tallied two first half goals and held a strong defensive front to earn the win.

Both teams were held scoreless until 23:46 when Syracuse’s Tracy Deitrick tallied her third goal of the season. The senior forward deflected a pass from sophomore Heather Susek at the left goal post to start the scoring. The game’s second goal came just under 10 minutes later at the 32:30 minute mark when freshman Amy Kee lifted a pass from sophomore Martina Loncarica off a penalty corner to put the Orange up 2-0.

The Friars made a comeback bid early in the second stanza as senior Adrienne Marois fired a shot past freshman goalkeeper Leann Stiver for her fifth goal of the season. Providence’s offense could not find its rhythm as they were held without a shot in the first half and to only three over the game.

Syracuse held a 10-5 advantage in penalty corners. Senior goalkeeper Rachel Chamberlain made four saves for the Friars, while freshman Leann Stiver made one stop for the Orange.

Syracuse will face the winner of the day’s second semifinal game when No. 2 Connecticut faces No. 3 Louisville at 1:40 p.m. The two semifinal winners will face off on Nov. 8 at 1:00 p.m., fighting for the BIG EAST’s automatic bid to the NCAA Championship. SU holds a 2-5 record in the BIG EAST Championship final.