Men's Soccer Opens 2005 Season on Sept. 2 Against Marist
9/2/2005 12:04:28 AM | Men's Soccer
ORANGE SOCCER OPENS 2005 CAMPAIGN VERSUS MARIST
The 72nd season of Syracuse men’s soccer begins on Friday, Sept. 2, versus Marist, at 4 p.m. at the SU Soccer Stadium. The Orange is coming off a 5-12-0 season that included 16 one-goal games. To say the 2004 season had a lot of close calls would be an understatement. All 12 of the Orange’s defeats were by a single goal, including a school-record eight 1-0 losses. But, it’s a new year! Syracuse and 15th-year head coach Dean Foti welcome back 12 letterwinners, including 10 starters and three of the top four scorers from the 2004 squad. The Orange will look to improve upon last year’s 3-7-0 record in league play.
SU was selected to finish in sixth place in the BIG EAST Red Division.
The Syracuse frontline is young and will be led by sophomore Isaac Collings and redshirt freshman Pete Rowley. Collings is back for his second season after suffering an ACL tear in 2003 and Rowley saw action in only four games last season before suffering a broken leg.
The midfielders are a mix of veterans and newcomers. Team offensive MVP in 2004, senior Mike McCallion and sophomore James Goodwin, who started in all 17 games last season will help guide the midfield line. Junior Richard Asante, who is returning after battling injury all of last year, also returns.
The defense allowed just 1.2 goals per game a year ago and returns many key components. Senior Ezra Prendergast earned third-team All-New York Region honors in 2004, while sophomore Brad Peetoom, a member of the Canadian U-20 National Team, scored a team-high four goals last season from the back half of the field. Senior Pat Gallagher will give the defense the veteran experience it needs.
Syracuse returns both goalies. Seniors Rich Scheer and Alim Karim split the goalkeeping duties in 2004. Scheer had a 1.04 goals against average in 781 minutes, while Karim posted a 1.36 goals against average in 793 minutes in net.
A QUICK LOOK AT MARIST
The Red Foxes are coming off one of their most successful seasons in school history. In 2004, they posted an 11-8 mark and captured the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship and the school’s first-ever NCAA Tournament berth. Head coach Bobby Herodes returns three of his top five leading scorers, including junior forward Keith Detelj, the MAAC Preseason Player of the Year. He scored 11 goals last year and led the conference with 25 points. Also returning is junior midfielder Anthony Graci, who ranked second on the squad with 15 points on seven goals and an assist. The backfield is a strength. The Red Foxes return all of their key players on defense, including MAAC Defensive Player of the Year Ben Castor and MAAC All-Tournament selection Tomislav Rogic. A new goalkeeper will reside in the net this season, replacing All-MAAC First Teamer Mike Valenti. Junior Michael Danyo, sophomores Dan Carlson and Mike Cladek and freshman Marcelo del Rio are competing for the job.
THE SYRACUSE-MARIST SERIES
This will be the seventh meeting between Syracuse and Marist on the men’s soccer field. The Orange holds a distinct 6-0 advantage in the all-time series against the Red Foxes. The last time these two teams met was Sept. 9, 2000 in Syracuse. The Orange squeaked out a 2-1 victory.
All-Time Series Between Syracuse and Marist
Sept. 9, 1983 - Syracuse 5, Marist 0 - at Syracuse, N.Y.
Sept. 8, 1984 - Syracuse 5, Marist 0 - at Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Sept. 7, 1985 - Syracuse 6, Marist 0 - at Syracuse, N.Y.
Sept. 6, 1986 - Syracuse 6, Marist 1 - at Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Sept. 5, 1992 - Syracuse 2, Marist 1 - at Vermont
Sept. 9, 2000 - Syracuse 2, Marist 1 - at Syracuse, N.Y.
SYRACUSE IN SEASON OPENERS
The Orange has lost seven consecutive season debuts. SU’s last 1-0 start was in 1997 after defeating 25th-ranked Connecticut, 2-0. This marks the second consecutive season that the Orange opens its campaign at home. Last year, SU lost a 2-1 overtime decision to St. Bonaventure in its season and home opener. Prior to that, Syracuse had won five-straight home openers. Since moving into the SU Soccer Stadium in 1996, the Orange is 38-25-5 (.596) at home. Last season, Syracuse went 2-6-0 at its home facility. It was just the second sub-.500 season at home since 1996, going 3-6 in 1997. Syracuse called the Carrier Dome (69-26-11) and Coyne Field (26-6-3) home from 1980-1995.
