Syracuse, N.Y. (NCC News) – Syracuse University has been known for honoring its great athletes. But, until last year, no female athletes had their numbers retired next to their male counterparts.
That changed last December when Syracuse women’s basketball standout and now head coach Felisha Leggett-Jack and women’s lacrosse legend Katie Rowan got their numbers retired for their respective programs. But still, there was no recognition for the female athletes that play their home games outside of the Dome. However, that is about to change.
When Syracuse Field Hockey hosts Cornell on Sunday afternoon, field hockey great Julie Williamson is set to get her number 9 forever displayed at J.S. Coyne Stadium. An honor she never thought would happen.
“I wasn’t expecting it, I’m totally just super pumped to be able to go up there, see my teammates, see everybody, and to be the first I’m just blown away,” Julie Williamson said.
As a player from 1991-1994, Williamson led her team to the program’s first-ever Big East title, became the first player in program history to play for the United States Women’s National team, and scored 94 career points, at the time the most in team history. Her play on the field is why the standout is receiving this honor, but for Syracuse Head Coach Ange Bradley it means just as much to the program.
“I think it just says a lot for all of the women, we have been one of the earliest programs established for women’s sports at Syracuse, and for the work all the women have done, it is really really special to see,” Ange Bradley said.
It is not just about representing the field hockey team however, this acknowledgment represents all women’s sports on campus. The jersey retirement is seen as an inspiration for the current female athletes of today like field hockey midfielder Sam Swart.
“I think having another female athlete up in the rafters is absolutely amazing and it makes young women like me feel honestly inspired,” Sam Swart said.
So next Sunday is a day of recognition. for Julie Williamson, but for women’s sports, the sport of field hockey Although Williamson never planned it like this, to have her number be the first to receive recognition, she wouldn’t want to represent the school she chose to attend more than 30 years ago any other way.
“While it wasn’t why I played the sport, to have these tremendous honors, you can’t help but to feel tremendous pride in your heart for the University and your teammates and your coaches, and the reaction of my seventeen-year-old reminded me this is pretty big,” Williamson said.
Syracuse and Cornell face off at 2 p.m. on Oct. 9 from J.S. Coyne Stadium. Tickets to this game and every Syracuse field hockey home game are free for all spectators.
