Men's Soccer Concludes Road Schedule at USF Sunday Night
10/13/2006 10:31:22 AM | Men's Soccer
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Orange (6-6-1, 1-6-1) begins its stretch run for a bid in the BIG EAST Conference Tournament on Sunday, Oct. 15 with its final road match of the year and its first trip ever to Florida when it plays at USF (7-4-3, 3-2-3). Syracuse has three regular-season games remaining, all against division conference opponents. Following the USF match, the Orange returns to the SU Soccer Stadium for home contests versus Rutgers on Oct. 18 and DePaul in the season finale on Oct. 21. Syracuse has four points in the league standings. DePaul and Louisville currently hold the fifth and sixth spots in the Red Division with nine points each.
The Orange has won its last two outings, both via shutout. Syracuse posted its first BIG EAST win at Villanova (1-0) on Oct. 7 and completed a perfect non-conference season with a 1-0, double-overtime victory against Hartwick on Oct. 10. Freshman Hansen Woodruff tallied the game-winning goals in both matches has scored the Orange’s last three goals dating back to its 1-1 draw at nationally-ranked St. John’s on Sept. 27.
WOODRUFF RETURNS HOME
Orange freshman Hansen Woodruff hails from Stuart, Fla. which is approximately 164 miles north of Tampa, the home of the USF Bulls. Woodruff had a stellar scholastic career at South Fork High School, culminating in a senior season in which he was named Florida’s Mr. Soccer (state player of the year) by the Florida Dairy Farmers. He led South Fork to two district championships and finished his high school career with 86 goals and 52 assists.
In his first season at Syracuse, Woodruff ranks second on the Orange with 12 points and is tied for the team lead in goals with five.
ORANGE GETS 50TH WIN AT SU SOCCER STADIUM
Syracuse’s 1-0, double-overtime win against Hartwick on Oct. 10 was big for many reasons. Not only was it the Orange’s first victory over the Hawks since 2002, it also marked the 50th win for the SU at its home facility - The SU Soccer Stadium. The Orange owns an overall record of 50-37-7 at the stadium since it opened prior to the 1996 campaign. This season, Syracuse is 4-3 at home with all four of its wins coming in non-conference games. Prior to the stadium’s opening, the Orange played its home matches on Coyne Field and inside the Carrier Dome.
MARTINEZ LENDS A HELPING HAND
Freshman Luis Martinez has helped jumpstart SU’s offense from his midfield position in 2006. Martinez is tied for the Orange lead with three assists this season. He recorded his third helper on SU’s golden goal against Hartwick on Oct. 10. Martinez played the ball to Kyle Hall, who raced up the right side and fed a cross that Hansen Woodruff knocked into the net at 105:22 to send Syracuse to a 1-0 victory over the Hawks. Martinez has started 12 of the Orange’s first 13 matches. He also registered assists this season against Niagara and Albany.
SCOUTING THE BULLS
USF holds a 7-4-3 overall record and is 3-2-3 in BIG EAST action. The Bulls are tied for second in the division with Rutgers and have 12 points in the conference standings. The majority of its matches have been tight games with 11 of their 14 contests decided by one goal or ending in a tie. USF is unbeaten in its last three outings, including a 3-1 win over non-conference foe Stetson at home on Oct. 12. A crowd of 2,106 fans attended the match that was televised live on the Fox Soccer Channel. It was the largest crowd to ever witness a game at the USF Soccer Stadium.
Head coach George Kiefer is in his fifth season as the Bulls mentor. In three of his first four full seasons, he guided USF to winning records and last year he led the Bulls to BIG EAST Championship in its first year in the league and a second-round NCAA Tournament appearance. Kiefer was selected as the NSCAA South Region Coach of the year after the 2005 season.
The Bulls boast three preaseason all-conference players on their roster. Two of those players, Jordan Seabrook and Rodrigo Hildalgo, are at the top of USF’s scoring list. Seabrook leads the club with 14 points and leads the squad with six goals. Hildalgo is second. He has 10 points . While their offense has been noted, its USF’s defense that has carried the day. The Bulls are tied first in the BIG EAST in fewest goals allowed (11) and lead the league in team goals against average (0.75). Goalkeeper Dane Brenner has played every minute in goal for USF. He is third in the BIG EAST goals against average (0.75), save percentage (.831) and is tied for third with six shutouts.
THE SYRACUSE-USF SERIES
Sunday’s clash is the second meeting between the Orange and the Bulls. Syracuse posted a victory in the first meeting between the two clubs in 2005, 1-0, at the SU Soccer Stadium.
