'Cuse Travels to Face UConn

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The fourth-ranked Syracuse Orange (11-1-0) travels to Storrs, Conn. to take on former BIG EAST rival UConn (4-5-2) on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. in Morrone Stadium. Syracuse has won seven in a row and is looking to tie the longest winning streak in team history with a victory against the Huskies. Connecticut is unbeaten in its last three games and owns a 2-2-1 home record.

LAST TIME OUT
Defender Tyler Hilliard scored a career-high two goals to lead the Orange past Wake Forest, 3-1, on Oct. 10. Both goals were headers off Jordan Murrell free kicks. Chris Nanco added an insurance goal in the 70th minute.

The win was SU's first in three tries against the Demon Deacons.

The Orange outshot Wake Forest, 13-8, and put 10 of its attempts on goal.

BIG WINNERS
With 11 victories, Syracuse has amassed double-digit wins for the third consecutive season. The Orange won 14 games in 2012 and 10 in 2013. The last time the Orange posted at least 10 wins in three straight years was 1989-91.

DOMINATING DEFENSE
SU has allowed three goals this season, tied with Marquette for the fewest in the nation. The Orange owns the country's top goals-against average (0.25) and team save percentage (.932). In addition, its .750 shutout percentage (9 shutouts in 12 games) is tied with Penn State for second in the NCAA.

The Orange's nine shutouts are tied for sixth on the school single-season record list. The team shut out nine of its first 10 opponents, including five in a row between Sept. 16 and Oct. 7. The five straight cleans sheets were one short of the school record (6) set during the 1980 season.

HISTORIC START
With 11 wins in its first 12 games, the 2014 squad has surpassed the 1982 and 1984 Orange for the best start to a season in program history. No previous Syracuse team had ever won 11 of its first 12 matches. The 1982 and 1984 squads both went 10-1-1 in their initial 12 contests.

NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS
Syracuse is 21-2-0 the past three years against non-conference opponents during the regular season, including a 7-0-0 record in 2014. SU has outscored its non-league foes by the count of 55-8 and recorded 18 shutouts in that stretch.

Overall, the Orange has won 18 straight against non-conference opponents, including its 2012 NCAA Tournament victories at Cornell and VCU. SU is assured of finishing the 2014 season with a winning non-conference record, the seventh time in 10 years, and the 11th time in 15 seasons, the Orange has been at least .500 in non-conference play.

THE UCONN SERIES
The Huskies lead the all-time series with Syracuse, 22-11-3. It's a rivalry that dates back to a Sept. 26, 1982 pairing in which the Orange defeated UConn, 3-1.

Syracuse snapped a six-game losing streak to the Huskies in 2013 with a 1-0 victory at the SU Soccer Stadium. Alex Halis scored the game's ony goal in the 24 minute and Alex Bono made five saves to earn the shutout.

SCOUTING THE HUSKIES
Sophomore forward Cyle Larin leads Connecticut with 12 points (5 goals, 2 assists). Ethan Vanacore-Decker is second on the team with six points on two goals and two assists.

Keeper Levene Scott has filled in for the injured Jacob Wagmeister the past three matches and has not conceded a goal. He has nine saves and the Huskies are 2-0-1 in those matches.

Ray Reid is in his 26th season overall as a college head coach and he is in 18th year at Connecticut. Reid entered 2014 with the second-highest winning percentage (.769) among NCAA head coaches. He's guided the Huskies to four national championships, eight BIG EAST regular-season titles, four BIG EAST Tournament titles and has been named the national coach of the year four times.

UP NEXT ...
The Orange continues its road trip with a conference match against ACC newcomer Louisville on Friday, Oct. 17. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at Lynn Stadium.

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Players Mentioned

Alex Bono

Alex Halis

Tyler Hilliard

Jordan Murrell

Chris Nanco

Syracuse University Athletics