Syracuse University
#7 Connecticut
SU Soccer Ends Season with 4-2 Loss at No. 7 UConn
11/3/2002 4:17:10 PM | Men's Soccer
Storrs, Conn. - The Syracuse men's soccer team ended the 2002 season with a 4-2 loss at seventh-ranked Connecticut on Sunday, November 3. SU finished the season with an 8-8-2 overall mark and a 3-6-1 record in BIG EAST play. Connecticut is now 13-4 overall and 7-3 in the conference.
SU sophomore Jarett Park (Tully, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy) led the Orangemen with a goal and an assist in the game. He finished the 2002 campaign with a team-leading eight goals and 21 points. Park also had five assists and now ranks in a tie for fourth on the Orangemen's all-time assist ledger despite playing just two seasons.
Park's goal put the Orangemen ahead, 1-0, in the 23rd minute. He took a pass from junior Kirk Johnson (Chester Springs, Pa./Downingtown) up the left side and fired a shot into the right side of the goal. The assist for Johnson moved him into a tie for eighth place on the SU all-time points list with 66. Johnson ended the season with five goals, three assists and 13 points.
The Huskies responded with four unanswered goals, including a hat trick by Cesar Cuellar. Cuellar tied the game at 1-1 in the 32nd minute. Connecticut took the lead for good just less than 15 minutes into the second half on an own goal by the Orangemen. Cuellar then scored two goals in the next 11 minutes to put the game away.
Syracuse's last goal came from freshman forward Robert Alexander (Midland, Mich./H.H. Dow) with 2:02 left in the game. It was Alexander's second goal in as many games. Park was credited with the assist.
Orangemen keeper Alim Karim (Scarborough, Ontario/West Hill Collegiate) made eight saves in the loss. He finished his rookie campaign with 85 saves. Karim started all but one game this season and recorded seven victories, including two shutouts. Adam Schuerman made three saves for UConn.
The loss eliminated the Orangemen from postseason contention. SU is currently 10th in the BIG EAST standings with a few conference games remaining to be played.
