Orangemen Soccer Concludes Regular Season Versus Hartwick
10/31/2000 4:06:15 PM | Men's Soccer
Three Orangemen seniors will be making their final regualar-season home appearance, Kevin Bacher, Sean Boyle and Mario Cristofori. All three have been regular contributors for Syracuse this season with a combined 48 starts. Bacher has played every minute of the season in goal for SU and has collected five shutouts. Boyle has started 14 of the 16 games he has played in this season as a defender and a midfielder, while Cristofori is fifth on the squad in scoring with a goal and an assist.
Syracuse enters the game with a 8-7-2 overall mark and a final BIG EAST record of 4-5-2. The Orangemen are the eighth seed in the league tournament. The Orangemen are currently ranked fifth in the New York Region, while Hartwick occupies the seventh position. A win would also guarantee Syracuse its second consecutive winning season, a feat not accomplished since the 1995 and 1996 seasons.
Freshman forward Kirk Johnson has continued to shoulder most of the scoring load. The rookie netted both of the Orangemen's goals in a 3-2 overtime loss at Colgate last week, and now leads the squad with nine goals for the season. That total is the third-best for a freshman in Syracuse history. With three more goals, Johnson would tie both the Syracuse rookie records for goals (12) and points (27). The Chester Springs, PA native is also trying to become the first freshman to lead the Orangemen in scoring since Jeff Knittel in 1995.
Junior midfielder John Andrade has also turned in an impressive offensive season. Andrade entered the year with two goals and two assists for six points. In the 2000 campaign alone, the East Providence, RI product has tallied five goals and six assists for 16 points, more than doubling his career output in each category. Andrade has been a clutch player all season long for Syracuse, scoring the game-winning goal three times, including the lone tally in SU's 1-0 win over then No. 1 ranked Connecticut.
Sophomore forward Guido Cristofori is the Orangemen's third double-digit scorer this season. The transfer from West Virginia has hit the back of the net five times and added three assists for 13 points. Cristofori has two game-winning goals, and owns the Orangemen's best single-game output with two goals and an assist.
Bacher has been solid between the posts, with 86 saves and a 1.21 goals against average. He posted all five of his shutouts in BIG EAST play, accumulating a 0.94 goals against average versus conference opponents. Bacher's next victory is the 25th of his career at Syracuse.
The Hawks come into the game winners of their last outings, a 7-2 win versus Cornell and a 4-3 overtime victory at Adelphi. Greg Victor is Hartwick's most dangerous offensive weapon with 14 of the Hawks' 38 goals. He also has four assists. Jonathan Westmaas is second on the list with two goals and a team-high eight assists. Rob Catana also has 12 points on five goals and two assists.
Hartwick has used three goalkeepers this season, with Randall Moate seeing the most action. Moate has started 15 games this season, amassing a 1.20 goals against average. He has recorded all eight victories for the Hawks with three solo shutouts.
The Hawks lead the all-time series 12-9-3, but the Orangemen have run off four consecutive wins in the series.
