SU Gets Two Early Goals; Downs #18 Cincinnati, 2-1

Saturday, October 15

SU Soccer Stadium

7 p.m.

Syracuse University

#18 Cincinnati

Richard Asante's goal at 6:32 proved to be the game-winner versus Cincinnati on Saturday.

SU Gets Two Early Goals; Downs #18 Cincinnati, 2-1

10/15/2005 10:37:14 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Orange men’s soccer team (6-6-2, 2-5-1 BIG EAST) got two goals in the first seven minutes of its match versus league foe #18 Cincinnati (7-5-2, 4-2-2 BIG EAST) and went on to defeat the Bearcats in the first-ever meeting between the two clubs, 2-1, on Saturday, Oct. 15 at the SU Soccer Stadium.

Senior defender Ezra Prendergast (Kingston, Jamaica) one-timed a shot into the back of the Cincinnati net off a corner kick 57 seconds into the contest to give the Orange an early 1-0 advantage. It was fastest goal ever scored by an SU player to start a match and was Prendergast’s first tally of the season. Prendergast’s score broke the previous record of 1 minute 12 seconds set by Wayne Tompkins versus Clarkson in 1975. The Orange struck again 5 minutes and 35 seconds later when junior Richard Asante (North York, Ontario) stole the ball from a Cincinnati player and drilled a shot from 25 yards out that knifed through the wind and into the top half of the goal to put SU ahead, 2-0, at the 6:32 mark.

Sam Miller got Cincinnati on the scoreboard in the second half, converting on a penalty kick at 66:55, after the Orange’s Brad Peetoom (Abbotsford, British Columbia) was whistled for a foul in the box.

The Bearcats tried desperately to tie the match in the final minutes, but SU’s defense was up to the challenge and turned Cincinnati away on every opportunity.

SU freshman keeper Robert Cavicchia (North York, Ontario) stopped a career-high 11 shots in the contest and made six saves in the second half, including two in the final five minutes to preserve the victory. He now has 54 saves on the year.

The triumph marked the second time the Orange knocked off a nationally-ranked opponent this season. Syracuse also defeated South Florida on Oct. 5 at the SU Soccer Stadium. The last time the Orange beat two ranked foes in the same season was in 2000 (Adelphi and Connecticut).

Syracuse returns to action on Tuesday, Oct. 18 when it hosts Colgate at 7:00 p.m.