Orangemen Soccer To Host Notre Dame In BIG EAST Battle
9/15/2000 5:34:04 PM | Men's Soccer
The Orangemen look to rebound from a 2-0 loss to the St. John's Red Storm when they host the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Sept. 16.
Syracuse enters the game with a 2-2 overall record and a 1-1 mark in the BIG EAST. The Irish are 1-2-1 overall with a 0-1 record in conference play.
The SU offense was shut out for the first time this season against the Red Storm. The Orangemen had scored two goals in each of their first three games, but couldn't dent the twine against the eighth-ranked team in the country. Despite not scoring, the Syracuse offense was far from dormant. The Orangemen had a number of scoring opportunities, getting off eight shots in the contest, including three by forward Guido Cristofori.
Senior goalkeeper Kevin Bacher was also strong in goal for Syracuse. The East Meadow, NY, native made a season-best seven saves, including some spectacular diving stops.
Today's game is a homecoming for Notre Dame goalkeeper Greg Tait. Tait, a native of Fayetteville, NY, played his high school soccer at Christian Brothers Academy where he was coached by former Syracuse All-American goalkeeper Joe Papaleo.
The sophomore has already made his mark with the Irish, recording shutouts in his first two career starts. He was named the first BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week of 2000 for his efforts.
Today is Notre Dame's first outing since a 2-0 loss at Boston College last Saturday. The Fighting Irish has lost its last two games, and is winless in its last three since opening the season with a 2-0 win versus New Mexico State.
Griffin Howard leads Notre Dame in scoring with two goals, both off penalty kicks. Devon Prescod has scored the only other Irish goal of the season. Dustin Predmore holds the Notre Dame's lone assist of the campaign.
The Irish have won the last two meetings with Syracuse, including a 2-0 win in South Bend last season. The Orangemen's last win in the series was in 1997 when SU knocked off the 18th-ranked Irish, 1-0.
Syracuse is trying to avoid losing back-to-back games for the first time this season. After starting 0-4 in 1999, the Orangemen have lost consecutive games just once, both to top-25 teams.
