Syracuse University
#22 Connecticut
Johnson Gets 30th in SU Victory
10/26/2003 4:06:56 PM | Men's Soccer
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Senior forward Kirk Johnson scored his 30th career goal, leading the Syracuse men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory against 22nd-ranked Connecticut at the SU Soccer Stadium on Sunday, October 26. The Orangemen won their second straight game to improve to 4-7-5 overall and 1-4-4 in the BIG EAST. The Huskies are now 7-7-2 overall and 4-3-2 in conference play.
Johnson's game-winning goal made him the sixth member of Syracuse's 30-goal club. Johnson is the first Orangeman to score at least 30 career goals since Paul Young completed his career in 1992. The score also moved him past Young into fifth place on the Orangemen's career points ledger with 77.
Syracuse tallied both of its goals in the first half. Junior forward Jarett Park notched his first goal of the season in the 34th minute. Park took the ball after it deflected off a Connecticut defender and hit a shot from 20 yards out that snuck in under the crossbar.
Johnson put the Orangemen ahead 2-0 just 1:33 later. He carried the ball down the left sideline and cut inside into the penalty box. A Connecticut defender made a slide tackle, but the ball bounded toward the goal and slowly trickled over the goal line for the game-winning tally.
The Huskies scored their lone goal in the 55th minute. Lindon Pecorelli threaded a pass to Steve Sealy who found the back of the net from about six yards away. It was Sealy's team-leading fourth goal of the season.
SU goalkeeper Alim Karim made three saves in the victory. The Orangemen defense limited the Huskies to five shots. Adam Schuerman made five stops in the losing effort.
The Orangemen stopped a three-game losing streak to the Huskies. SU has now defeated at least one ranked team in each of the past seven seasons. It was the final home contest for Syracuse. SU ended the year with a 4-1-3 record, its sixth consecutive winning season at home.
Syracuse plays its season finale on Sunday, November 2 at Pittsburgh. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
