Syracuse University
Cornell
Rookies Lead SU to Victory at Cornell
10/30/2002 9:39:10 PM | Men's Soccer
ITHACA, N.Y. - Freshmen forwards Jeff Evans (Springfield, Va./West Springfield) and Robert Alexander (Midland, Mich./H.H. Dow) each scored their first career goals to lead the Syracuse men's soccer team to a 2-1 win at Cornell on Wednesday, October 30. Syracuse improved to 8-7-2, while the Big Red is now 3-6-3.
All the scoring for both teams came in the second half. The Orangemen took a 1-0 lead on Evans' goal in the 62nd minute. Evans found the back of the net after a scramble in the box off a Syracuse corner kick. Junior Kirk Johnson (Chester Springs, Pa./Downingtown) and senior Guido Cristofori (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) each had assists on the play.
Cornell tied the game less than two minutes later when Andrew George scored on a rebound of Scott Palguta's shot that hit the post. Alexander tallied the game-winner for SU on a breakaway goal in the 76th minute. Junior Chris Aloisi (North Babylon, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) and Cristofori were credited with the assists on the play.
Cristofori has now assisted on the Orangemen's last five goals. He leads the team with seven assists on the season. He has either scored or assisted on six of SU's eight game-winning goals. Evans became the fifth different freshman to score at least one point for Syracuse.
Freshman goalkeeper Alim Karim (Scarborough, Ontario/West Hill Collegiate) earned his seventh win of the season with four saves. Karim's seven victories are the most for an SU rookie since Josh McGibbon in 1994. Nate Dunlap made eight saves for the Big Red in the loss.
The Orangemen remained unbeaten versus teams in the New York Region. SU is now 4-0-2 versus intrastate teams. Syracuse entered the game ranked fourth in the region.
Syracuse plays its final regular-season game on Sunday, November 3 at ninth-ranked Connecticut. The Orangemen must win to keep their BIG EAST Tournament hopes alive. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
