McManus Nets the Game-Winner As the Orange Beats Seton Hall, 1-0

Sunday, October 15

SU Soccer Stadium

1:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

Seton Hall

Senior Molly McManus (#33) celebrates after her game-winning goal against Seton Hall

McManus Nets the Game-Winner As the Orange Beats Seton Hall, 1-0

10/15/2006 4:20:12 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Syracuse, N.Y.- The Syracuse women’s soccer team beat Seton Hall, 1-0, on Sunday at the SU Soccer Stadium. Senior Molly McManus scored off a cross by freshman Tessa MacDougall in the 70th minute to give the Orange the victory. Sophomore Eliza Bennett-Hattan made four saves for her fifth shutout of the season. The win was Syracuse’s first at home this season and gives them seven points in the BIG EAST standings.

The first half was a defensive battle, with neither team registering a shot until six minutes in. In the 20th minute, Syracuse had its best scoring opportunity of the half when freshman Chelsea Berry raced down the right side and crossed the ball to sophomore Amanda Arcuri. Arcuri played a touch pass back to MacDougall and her shot sailed high over the crossbar. Seton Hall came back four minutes later and Ali Donofrio broke through the Syracuse defense, but her shot sailed high. The Orange had three-consecutive corners at the end of the half, but was unable to capitalize.

The Orange came out strong in the second half, registering four shots in a three minute span. Sophomore Sarah VanSickle had a header off a corner kick, but Seton Hall goalie Amanda Becker made a diving save. Becker punted the ball, but the Orange regained possession and Arcuri took a shot to the left side of the goal, but Becker once again came up with a diving stop.

Syracuse kept the pressure on Seton Hall, recording four shots and three corner kicks in 15 minutes. The Orange held the Pirates without a shot for the first 25 minutes of the second half. In the 70th minute, MacDougall crossed the ball into the box, where McManus beat a Seton Hall defender and put a sliding shot into the left corner of the net.

“I have been coaching for 32 years and I have never seen a goal scored by a more deserving person,” said Syracuse head coach Pat Farmer. “To go through all she has been through the past two years with injuries and have the opportunity to score the game-winner at home is amazing. We don’t have many seniors on this team, but I am so proud of her effort.”

The Orange (3-11-3, 2-6-1 BIG EAST) hosts Marquette (7-5-4, 5-3-1 BIG EAST) on Friday at 7:00 p.m.