Syracuse Earns 1-1 Draw At Albany On Woodruff's PK

Wednesday, September 12

Albany, NY

4:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

Albany

Hansen Woodruff scored his team-leading third goal Wednesday at Albany.

Syracuse Earns 1-1 Draw At Albany On Woodruff's PK

9/12/2007 4:56:26 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

ALBANY, N.Y. – The SU men’s soccer team extended its unbeaten streak to six games on Wednesday, Sept. 12 with a 1-1 double-overtime draw at Albany. The Orange hasn’t lost since Oct. 18, 2006 and is 2-0-3 this season. Sophomore Hansen Woodruff (Stuart, Fla.) tallied his team-leading third goal of the year on a penalty kick in the 53^rd minute to square the match.

The triumph improved the Orange’s record to 7-0-3 in its last 10 non-conference games. It hasn’t lost a non-league match since the 2005 season.

The Great Danes (1-3-1) jumped on the Orange early, scoring on their first shot of the contest. Don Johnson brought the ball down the right side and sent a cross into the box. The pass was headed home by Ian Peach from six yards out to give Albany the lead at the 4:28 mark. The play was the only good goal-scoring opportunity for the Great Danes the entire match as the Orange defense clamped down.

SU turned the tide offensively in the second half, using crisp passing to maintain longer possessions. As a result, the majority of play occurred in the Great Danes’ half of the field. The constant pressure led to Woodruff’s penalty-kick chance after he was taken down inside the box. He converted the kick, the first of his career, with a blast to the lower left 90.

Woodruff’s hard work in the offensive end paid off again with 23:36 left in regulation. He outmaneuvered an Albany defender and tried to thread a pass to the middle. It was deflected back to him and he ripped a low shot from 10 yards away that Albany keeper Steward Ceus smothered and the game eventually went into overtime.

Syracuse dominated the first extra period, out-shooting the Great Danes, 4-1. Woodruff nearly won the match with four minutes remaining in the period, but Ceus tipped his running header just over the crossbar. On the ensuing, corner, Woodruff collected a loose ball in front, but his sliding shot deflected off an Albany player and SU was awarded another corner. This time, Spencer Schomaker (Seattle, Wash.) nearly won it for SU, but Ceus snared his header off the serve.

Syracuse recorded the only shot in the second overtime and the game ended in a draw.

It was very physical match as the two teams combined for 45 total fouls and four yellow cards.

"I thought we got off to a slow start, but after we got it going we had some very good chances to get another goal," SU head coach Dean Foti said. "The game was physical and one in which we needed to be a little more composed in."

Orange junior netminder Robert Cavicchia (North York, Ontario) made four saves Wednesday to move into a tie with Steve Pollnow for eighth on SU’s career list (168). He has 21 stops on the season.

Ceus made four saves for the Great Danes. Offensively, Taylor McNamara led the hosts with three shots.

Syracuse will play its home opener on Sunday, Sept. 16 against Fordham at the SU Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m.