Syracuse University
#16 Connecticut
#16 UConn Defeats the 23rd-Ranked Orangemen, 3-1
10/13/2001 10:27:45 PM | Men's Soccer
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The 16th-ranked Connecticut Huskies scored three second-half goals to defeat the 23rd-ranked Syracuse men's soccer team, 3-1, on Saturday, Oct. 13 at the Soccer Stadium at the Lampe Athletics Complex. The Orangemen are now 6-4 overall and 3-3 in the BIG EAST, while the Huskies improve to 8-2-2 and 5-0 in league play.
The loss snapped Syracuse's three-game winning streak. Connecticut has now won five consecutive outings.
Syracuse took an early 1-0 lead when freshman forward Jarett Park (Tully, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy) tallied an unassisted goal in the second minute. Junior midfielder Guido Cristofori (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) played a long ball to Park that was deflected by Connecticut defender Chris Gbandi. Park regained control of the ball and put it past Bryheem Hancock in the top left corner of the goal. Park's goal was only the second scored versus Connecticut during their five-game winning streak. He is now second on the Orange with four goals and 20 points.
SU held the Huskies scoreless for the remainder of the half and limited UConn to just two first-half shots. The Huskies didn't attempt a shot until there were less than 12 minutes remaining in the first stanza.
Connecticut tied the game in the 52nd minute when the officials award Gbandi a penalty kick for being taken down in the box. The senior All-America converted for his second goal of the season. The Huskies went ahead on Damani Ralph's first goal of the game in the 66th minute. David Castellanos and Lindon Pecorelli were credited with assists on the play.
Ralph put the game out of reach in the 88th minute with his eighth goal of the season. Castellanos tallied his second assist of the evening.
The Huskies outshot Syracuse, 9-5 in the second half and 11-4 for the game. Senior goalkeeper Anthony Peters (Schenectady, N.Y./Schalmont) made five saves in the loss. Hancock needed only one save in his eighth win of the season. The game also had a combined seven yellow cards, including six by the Huskies.
The Orangemen continue BIG EAST play on Wednesday, Oct. 17 when they travel to ninth-ranked Rutgers. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.
