Orangemen To Take on Mountaineers
10/9/2003 4:46:47 PM | Men's Soccer
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse men's soccer team will play game four of a six-game BIG EAST stretch when it hosts West Virginia on Friday, October 10 at 7 p.m. The Orangemen are 2-6-3 overall and 0-3-2 in the conference, while the Mountaineers are 4-6-1 overall and 1-3-1 in league play.
The game is the second of a soccer doubleheader. The SU women will host 20th-ranked Boston College at 4 p.m. It is Youth Day at the Soccer Stadium. All youth ages 18-and-under can gain admission to both games for just $1.
ORANGEMEN LOSE FIRST HOME GAME
Syracuse went 0-1-1 in two home games last week. The Orangemen tied eighth-ranked Notre Dame, 1-1, and lost to Virginia Tech, 5-1. The goal by the Fighting Irish stopped the Orange’s three-game shutout streak at home. The loss to the Hokies snapped a four-game home unbeaten streak.
CALAITZIDIS CONVERTS ANOTHER PENALTY KICK
Sophomore midfielder Ilias Calaitzidis scored the Orangemen’s goal versus Notre Dame, converting on a penalty kick in the 77th minute to tie the score at 1-1. It was Caliatizidis team-best third goal of the season and second of the year on a penalty kick. He is 2-for-2 this season on PKs and 3-for-3 in his career (Villanova, 2002). Calaitzidis three goals in 2003 matches his season total from last year.
BRUNO SCORES AGAIN
Freshman midfielder Frank Bruno notched his second goal of the season against Virginia Tech. Bruno converted the Orangemen’s second penalty kick in as many games versus the Hokies. Bruno ranks tied for second on the team with two goals and four points.
KARIM HAS STELLAR NIGHT VERSUS IRISH
Sophomore goalkeeper Alim Karim made a season-high eight saves in the 1-1 tie versus Notre Dame. Karim has allowed 16 goals in his 979:27 minutes of play for a 1.47 goals against average. 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.
GALLAGHER MAKES FIRST CAREER START
Junior defender Pat Gallagher started the first two games of his career against Notre Dame and Virginia Tech. Gallagher is in his first season with the Orangemen after transferring from Texas Christian. The Horned Frogs dropped their men’s soccer team to club status after the 2002 season. Gallagher has played in five games and scored one goal so far this season (versus Boston College). He played in 12 games for TCU last season, starting five times.
JOHNSON LOOKING FOR GOAL NUMBER 30
Senior forward Kirk Johnson recorded his second goal of the season, heading in a corner kick versus Colgate. Johnson is now tied for sixth place on the Orangemen's career goal list with 29 (Gabriel Gervais). His next tally will make him only the sixth SU player ever to score 30 goals in a career. He would be the first since All-American Paul Young finished his career in 1992 with 32 goals. Johnson also ranks sixth on the Orange's all-time points scored list with 73.
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
Since getting off to a 4-2 start, West Virginia is winless in its last five games (0-4-1). The Mountaineers lost at Northeastern, 2-1, their last time out. Jarrod Smith, Aaron Pitchkolan and Devon McTavish lead the team in scoring with three goals and six points each. Bernard Ouassa has both of the Mountaineers assists this season. Seven of WVU’s 11 games have been shutouts either way. Nick Noble and Adam Shutler have split time in net. Noble is 3-2-0 with two shutouts and a 0.81 goals against average in 663:13 minutes of play. Shutler is 0-3-0 with a 1.41 GAA in 382:17 minutes of action.
Series Notes: The Orangemen hold a 4-2-2 series advantage versus the Mountaineers … This is WVU’s first visit to Syracuse since 1999 … The road team has lost only once in the series (two ties) … SU defeated the Mountaineers in the 1999 BIG EAST Quarterfinals.
