Orange Loses Opener to Bonnies

Wednesday, September 1

SU Soccer Stadium

7:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

St. Bonaventure

Richard Asante took eight shots in the season-opener.

9/1/2004 10:42:32 PM | Men's Soccer

St. Bonaventure 2, Syracuse 1 (2OT)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Andy Garcia’s goal in the 106^th minute propelled St. Bonaventure to a 2-1 double-overtime victory versus the Syracuse men’s soccer team at the SU Soccer Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 1. The game was the season-opener for both schools.

Garcia was the Bonnies main source of offense, notching both goals in the contest. He also recorded six of their seven shots in the game. John Darrah assisted on the game-winning goal for his first point of the season.

Freshman Pete Rowley scored his first career goal for the Orange in his first career game. Rowley converted a penalty kick in the 81^st minute to tie the score at 1-1.

St. Bonaventure took a 1-0 lead in the 20^th minute on Garcia’s first goal. After a Syracuse card gave the Bonnies a free kick, Garcia bent the ball around the SU defense and into the lower-left corner of the net. The Bonnies held the lead until Rowley was taken down in the box and awarded a penalty kick. The rookie converted the opportunity, sliding the ball past Bonnies keeper Sean Eyde.

Eyde made three saves in the game before leaving in the 94^th minute with an injury. His replacement, Jonathan Blanchard played just more than 12 minutes and made one save to earn the victory. Syracuse goalkeeper Alim Karim, made two saves in the loss.

The Orange outshot the Bonnies, 19-7, including a game-high eight attempts for sophomore Richard Asante. Syracuse also held an 11-3 advantage in corner kicks.

SU had a goal disallowed in the 58^th minute of the game. Junior Jeff Evans rammed home a shot on the goal line off a deflection, but the linesman waved the score off with an offsides call.

The Bonnies win was the first-ever against the Orange. Syracuse now leads the all-time series 19-1-1. It was also the Orange’s seventh-consecutive loss in season openers and snapped a five-game winning streak for SU in home debuts.

The Orange play its next home game on Sunday, Sept. 5 at 1 p.m. versus Adelphi. The first 200 fans through the gate will receive and SU schedule card.