SU Takes on Virginia Tech Sunday, October 5
10/3/2003 4:12:45 PM | Men's Soccer
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse men's soccer team will put its four-game home unbeaten streak on the line against Virginia Tech on Sunday, October 5 at 1 p.m. The Orangemen are 2-5-3 overall and 0-2-2 in the BIG EAST, while the Hokies stand at 7-2-1 overall and 2-1 in conference play.
SU is coming off a 1-1 tie versus eighth-ranked Notre Dame on Thursday. Sophomore midfielder Ilias Calaitzidis scored the game-tying goal on a penalty kick. Calaitzidis has now converted both his PK opportunities this season and all three for his career. He is SU's leading scorer this season with three goals and six points.
Sophomore goalkeeper Alim Karim made a season-best eight saves to preserve the tie. Karim has allowed 11 goals in his 889:27 minutes of play for a 1.11 goals against average. His GAA currently ranks in a fourth-place tie on the Syracuse single-season record list (since 1986) with Charlie Wilke in 1990. As of the last statistical reporting period, Karim ranks among the BIG EAST leaders in several categories. He is seventh in goals against average, tied for eighth in save percentage, fourth in saves and tied for third in shutouts. He already has one more shutout than he did all of last season.
Virginia Tech has lost just once in its last seven games (5-1-1). The Hokies defeated 10th-ranked Rutgers on the road in their last game on September 28. Bobby O'Brien leads the team with three goals, three assists and nine points. Goalkeeper Chase Harrison has played every minute for Virginia Tech. Harrison has four shutouts and a 0.76 goals against average.
Series Notes:Virginia Tech leads the series, 2-0 … The two teams did not play each other until the Hokies joined the BIG EAST in 2001 … The Orangemen are looking for their first goal versus Virginia Tech.
