Orangemen Kickoff Three-Game Homestand Saturday Versus Rutgers
10/11/2002 12:23:55 PM | Men's Soccer
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse men's soccer team (6-5-1, 2-3) will begin a three-game homestand versus ranked BIG EAST opponents at 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 12 versus 14th-ranked Rutgers (4-3-3, 3-2-1). At halftime, SU will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the inaugural BIG EAST championship team from 1982.
Saturday's game is also Autographed Picture Day. The first 250 fans will receive a 2002 SU men's soccer autographed team photo. In addition, everyone who attended the 2002 Syracuse Boys Soccer Camp is invited to the game and will receive free admission.
Syracuse is trying to keep its two-game unbeaten string alive after a 0-0 tie at Army on Tuesday, October 8. The Orangemen won their last BIG EAST game, 2-1 in overtime, at West Virginia. Rutgers, ranked 14th in the nation, lost a top-25 duel to third-ranked St. John’s on Wednesday, October 9, 3-1. The loss snapped a four-game unbeaten string for the Scarlet Knights.
Sophomore forward Jarett Park (Tully, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy) recorded his 18th career assist in Syracuse’s 2-1 overtime win at West Virginia. After only 28 career games, Park already ranks sixth on the Orangemen’s all-time assist ledger. He is one assist shy of matching Mark DiMonte and Eric Puls for fourth place all-time.
Senior forward Guido Cristofori (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) leads the Orangemen, and is tied for first in the BIG EAST, with three game-winning goals this season. Cristofori also assisted on the game-winner at West Virginia. He has now been involved in four of SU’s six game-winners this season. He is second on the team in goals (4) and ponts (10).
Since 1997, the Orangemen are 7-19 versus teams ranked in the top 25. SU has had at least one victory against a top 25 opponent in each season since 1997. Rutgers has been ranked in three of the last five meetings. SU is 2-1 versus the Scarlet Knights in those three games.
The all-time series between SU and Rutgers is deadlocked at 4-4. The Orangemen have won the last two meetings, including a 3-2 overtime win on the road versus the then eighth-ranked Scarlet Knights. SU won the last meeting at the SU Soccer Stadium, 2-0, in 2000.
The Orangemen will play the second of three straight top 15 opponents on Wednesday, October 16 versus 15th-ranked Boston College. SU rounds its three-game homestand on October 19 at 7 p.m. against St. John's. The matchup with the Red Storm is the last home game of the season for Syracuse.
