Men's Soccer Continues Homestand Against DePaul Saturday Night
10/16/2008 6:40:59 PM | Men's Soccer
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Orange men’s soccer team (5-4-3, 2-4-1) continues its homestand on Saturday, Oct. 18 when it hosts BIG EAST Red Division foe DePaul for a 7 p.m. contest at the SU Soccer Stadium. Beginning with the Blue Demons, Syracuse has four conference games remaining in 2008, all against division opponents. With the BIG EAST Tournament picture beginning to take shape each league contest is significant.
Following the DePaul match, the Orange will conclude its three-game homestand and the non-conference portion of its schedule versus Adelphi on Oct. 21. Admission and parking for all SU soccer games is free.
ABOUT THE ORANGE
Syracuse looks to get back on track after losing consecutive matches for the first time this season, including a 3-2 overtime defeat against Rutgers in its most recent outing on Oct. 11.
Senior Kyle Hall took over the team scoring lead last week with a goal at #8/5 St. John’s. He also added an assist against Rutgers to become the first Orange player this season reach double figures in scoring. Hall has 10 points on the year and is tied with Tom Perevegyencev for the squad lead in goals (4). Sophomore Geoff Lytle has developed into a consistent playmaker this year and leads SU with four assists. He is one of five Orange men with multiple helpers in 2008.
SCORING UP IN BIG EAST GAMES
The Orange is having more success this season on offense against conference opponents. Syracuse has eight goals in seven league matches so far and has scored multiple goals against three BIG EAST opponents, including St. John’s. Syracuse is one of only two squads this year to find the net twice against the Red Storm. Its three multi-goal conference matches this year equals the number of multi-goal BIG EAST matches for Syracuse in 2006 and 2007 combined.
With four conference games left, the Orange’s eight BIG EAST goals is just one shy of its 2007 total (9) achieved in 11 league matches. Syracuse scored eight goals in BIG EAST play in both 2005 and 2006.
CAVICCHIA TIED FOR BIG EAST SAVES LEAD
Senior goalie Robert Cavicchia is tied for the conference lead in saves. Cavicchia has 59 stops on the season. He paces all conference keepers in saves per game at 4.92. Neal Kitson of St. John’s and Zach Johnson of West Virginia also have 59 stops.
Cavicchia posted a season-best nine saves against Rutgers in SU’s most recent outing. He’s made at least five saves seven times this year, including each of the last four games. Cavicchia leads all keepers in saves against conference opponents with 39.
SCOUTING DEPAUL
The Blue Demons enter Saturday’s contest with a 6-4-3 overall record, including a 4-2-1 mark in the BIG EAST. DePaul is currently fourth in the Red Division with 13 points. In their most recent outing, the Blue Demons defeated Loyola-Chicago, 2-0.
DePaul leading scorer Steffen Vroom is the reigning BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week. Vroom scored the winning goal in the team’s upset of USF on Oct. 7 and had a hand in both of DePaul’s goals against Cincinnati on Oct. 11. Vroom has four of the team’s eight total goals in 2008. All of his scores have been game-winners. Goalkeeper Brian Visser has eight shutouts and 0.51 goals-against average. He has made 44 saves.
SYRACUSE-DEPAUL SERIES
Syracuse and DePaul have met every year since the Blue Demons joined the BIG EAST in 2005. The home team has won all three meetings with DePaul holding a 2-1-0 in the series. Each game has been decided by the score of 1-0. Hansen Woodruff provided the winning margin the last time the two schools squared off in Syracuse. Woodruff scored in the 56th minute to lift the Orange to victory.
