Postseason Hopes Hang In The Balance As Orange Hosts #22 USF
10/26/2007 1:13:31 PM | Men's Soccer
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Syracuse (5-6-4, 2-6-0) will play its second game in four days when it hosts nationally-ranked USF in a BIG EAST Red Division match on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 7:00 p.m. The game is crucial for the Orange as a loss in any of its last three games would end its hopes for a berth in the BIG EAST Tournament. SU is currently six points behind Rutgers for the last spot in the Red Division.
The Bulls come into the match ranked 22nd in this week’s NSCAA poll. Saturday’s contest will be available on SUathletics.com as part of Orange All Access. It is the final men’s soccer game on All Access’ fall slate.
WASIELEWSKI CONTRIBUTES ON OFFENSE
Junior defender Karol Wasielewski (Gydnia, Poland)
ROWLEY MAKES FIRST START OF 2007
Junior Pete Rowley (Reading, Pa.)
Rowley missed SU’s first 10 games of the year rehabbing. He returned for the team’s match at Rutgers on Oct. 7 and played 26 minutes. Since then, he has appeared in four of the Orange’s five contests. Rowley has 10 goals and four assists in his career. He led the Orange in points (13) and goals (6) as a redshirt freshman in 2005.
STAT NUGGETS FROM THE VILLANOVA MATCH
The Orange’s loss to Villanova on Oct. 24 was its first of the year when scoring first in a match. Syracuse is 4-1-2 on the season when its gets on the scoreboard before its opponent. Against the Wildcats, sophomore forward Hansen Woodruff (Stuart, Fla.)
It was also SU’s first defeat when it takes a lead into the intermission. For the year, Syracuse is 2-1-1 when ahead at the half with victories against Penn State and Fordham.
ABOUT THE BULLS
USF has been in and out of the national polls in 2007. The Bulls check in this week at No. 22 in the NSCAA rankings. USF has won three of its last four, including a 3-2 victory against Cincinnati on Oct. 24. It’s only loss in that stretch was at Rutgers, 3-1. USF is 8-1-0 in home games and neutral site matches. It is 2-2-2 in true away games.
The Bulls are the second-highest scoring time in the BIG EAST and they have outscored their foes, 31-14, on the season. USF has been particularly strong in the first half this year. It owns a 18-4 scoring advantage over its opponents in the opening 45 minutes. Head coach George Kiefer has five players that have at least four goals this season. Bernardo Anor, who tallied, the golden goal in OT against Cincinnati, and Simon Schoendorf lead the squad with six goals each. Schoendorf also has nine assists for a team-best 21 points.
Freshman goalkeeper Diego Restrepo has played every minute in net for the Bulls. He owns a 0.88 goals-against average and has six shutouts.
THE SYRACUSE-USF SERIES
Saturday’s clash is the third meeting between the two teams. Both squads have won on their own turf. Syracuse won the first pairing in 2005, 1-0, at the SU Soccer Stadium. USF evened the series last year at home on Kevon Neaves’ tally in the 106th minute.
