Syracuse University
Hartwick
9/25/2002 9:49:57 PM | Men's Soccer
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse men's soccer team remained unbeaten at home with a 3-1 win versus Hartwick on Wednesday, September 25 at the SU Soccer Stadium. The Orangemen are now 5-3 overall, while the Hawks drop to 4-3-1. SU has won four straight home contests this season.
Syracuse, ranked seventh in the latest New York Region poll, snapped a two-game losing streak to the Hawks, who entered the game ranked fifth in the region.
The Orangemen tallied the first two goals of the night. Senior Ryan Hall (Great Falls, Va./Herndon) netted his first goal of the season off a set piece on a direct kick. Junior Ari Schneider (East Brunswick, N.J./East Brunswick) tapped the ball across to Hall who buried it to give SU a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute. Freshman Ilias Calaitzidis (Brossard, Quebec/Champlain Regional) scored his first goal of the season in the 58th minute. Calaitzidis picked up a loose ball, drove to the net and beat the Hartwick keeper for Syracuse's second goal of the game.
The Hawks score their lone goal in the 68th minute. Syracuse goalkeeper Alim Karim (Scarborough, Ontario/West Hill Collegiate) was whistled for a ballhandling violation in the penalty box. Hartwick converted on the free kick with Neil McLean beating Karim on a pass from Kevin Saunders.
SU iced the game in the 84th minute. Junior forward Kirk Johnson (Chester Springs, Pa./Downingtown) became the 10th player in Syracuse history to score 25 career goals. Sophomore Jarett Park (Tully, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy) and junior Chris Aloisi (North Babylon, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) recorded assists on the play. Johnson is now tied for eighth on the SU career goals list with Jeff Knittel and Jamie Shannon. He also moved into a ninth-place tie with Eric Puls on the Orangemen's career points list with 63.
Karim earned his fifth victory of the season, making nine saves, including six in the second half. Randall Moate had five saves in net for the Hawks.
The Orangemen's home winning streak is the longest since the 1999 squad also won four games in a row. The school record for consecutive home victories is seven set in 1988. Syracuse is also unbeaten in its last 10 games scoring two or more goals. SU is 9-0-1 since a 3-2 overtime loss at Old Dominion last season.
Syracuse gets back into BIG EAST action on Saturday, September 28 at Seton Hall. The Orangemen return home on Wednesday, October 2 to face Villanova.
