SU Clinches BIG EAST Berth with 100th All-Time Victory

Sunday, October 23

Milwaukee, Wisc.

12:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

South Florida

Nikki Spartano scored two goals to lead the Orange.

SU Clinches BIG EAST Berth with 100th All-Time Victory

10/23/2005 3:25:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Boxscore

MILWUAKEE, WISC-- The Syracuse Orange’s 100^th victory all-time clinched a BIG EAST Tournament berth as it beat South Florida, 3-2, on Sunday in its final regular season game. Senior Nikki Spartano (Syracuse, N.Y.) scored two goals to lead the Orange into the postseason.

The two teams were tied for the fifth and final tournament spot coming into the game. The top five finishers from Division A and Division B earn postseason berths.

SU opened the scoring when Molly McManus (Binghamton, N.Y.) took control of the ball off a turnover and crossed a pass to Spartano, who tapped in a short-range shot from four yards out to give the Orange a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute.

Spartano scored again to expand the Orange lead to 2-0 SU in the 34^th minute. She scored from 11 yards out blasting a right-footed shot by South Florida keeper Casey Garrett. Spartano’s goal was unassisted as she claimed possession off a turnover.

SU head coach Pat Farmer said Spartano’s goals were a pair of the best goals he’s seen from his team all season.

“Nikki scored two tremendous goals,” he said. “She made a good run to get the first one and the second one she was under pressure and was able to beat the keeper to the near post.”

USF narrowed the Syracuse lead to 2-1 just before the half when Katie Reed scored on a penalty kick opportunity in the 41^st minute.

SU picked up an insurance goal in the 66^th minute when Amanda Arcuri (New, City, N.Y.) gained control after a scramble in the box in front of the USF goal and fired a shot that turned out to be rebounded by Samantha Hawn (Spencerport, N.Y.) who scored SU’s third goal of the game.

The Orange held a 3-1 lead into the final minute of the game when USF’s Jeanette Dyer scored with 50 seconds left to play. SU was able to run out the final seconds to hold on for a 3-2 victory to advance to the BIG EAST Tournament.

SU goalkeeper Emily Kowalczyk (Dayton, Ohio) had four saves in the game.

Farmer was impressed with his teams ability to step up its play in a must win playoff like situation.

“We talked about this being like a playoff game last night,” he said. “Both teams this weekend (Marquette, South Florida) were a difficult combination of teams to play. We just did what needed to be done and we are happy to be going on to the conference tournament.”

Syracuse will not know its first round match-up for the BIG EAST Tournament until other results from Sunday (Oct. 23) are in.