Men's Soccer's Looks to Keep Rolling; Hosts #2/5 Connecticut Sunday

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Orange men’s soccer team (5-1-2, 2-1-0) takes on its third ranked foe in seven days when it hosts #2/5 Connecticut (4-1-3, 2-1-0) on Sunday, Sept. 28 at the SU Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is 3 p.m. Admission and parking for the match is free. Fans can also catch live streaming video and audio of the game on SUathletics.com as part of Orange All Access.

Syracuse is coming off a resounding 3-0 victory against #20/22 Providence in its BIG EAST home opener on Friday, Sept. 26 and is 2-0-2 at home this season.

LAST TIME OUT
The Orange scored three times and went on to defeat Providence, 3-0, on Sept. 26. Syracuse exploited a Providence defense that entered the match tied for fourth nationally in goals-against average (0.26) and had given up two goals in seven games prior to Friday.

Six players collected points in the victory, including redshirt freshman Nick Olivetti who tallied his first collegiate goal in the 73rd minute of the contest to close the scoring. Senior Kyle Hall and sophomore Justin Arena also had goals for the Orange.

Syracuse received another tremendous effort from its defense. Senior keeper Robert Cavicchia made two saves to earn his sixth shutout in eight games. The Orange backline limited Friars’ leading scorer Timothy Ritter to one shot. They also shut down All-BIG EAST midfielder Ryan Maduro who attempted four shots, none of which were good scoring chances.

SCOUTING CONNECTICUT
The Huskies entered the weekend tied with Providence for fourth nationally in goals-against average (0.26) until surrendering three goals to St. John’s in its first loss of the season on Friday, Sept. 26. Connecticut owns an overall record of 4-1-3 and is 2-1-0 in league play.

Reigning Hermann Trophy winner O’Brian White leads the club with eight points, including three goals. Akeem Priestley also has three scores on the year and Mike Pezza leads the squad with four assists.

Head coach Ray Reid is the NCAA’s active leader in winning percentage (.779). He guided the Huskies to the NCAA title in 2000 and has won four BIG EAST Championships in his tenure, including last season’s conference crown.

FAMILIAR FACE ON THE UCONN SIDELINE
Former Syracuse standout Kevin Bacher is in his seventh season working as an assistant on Ray Reid’s coaching staff at Connecticut. Bacher, who competed for the Orange from 1997-2000, mentors the Huskies’ goalkeepers. He still ranks fourth on SU’s career saves list (243) and is also fourth on the Orange’s career wins chart (24). He was a second-team All-BIG EAST selection in 2000 and earned first-team NSCAA All-Region accolades that same season.

SYRACUSE-CONNECTICUT SERIES
The Huskies hold an 20-10-3 advantage in the all-time series which began in 1982. The two clubs have met at least once every season since the series began. In 2000, Syracuse posted one of the most memorable victories in school history when it defeated the Huskies in Storrs, 1-0, when Connecticut was ranked No. 1 in the national polls.

Syracuse University Athletics

Men's Soccer's Looks to Keep Rolling; Hosts #2/5 Connecticut Sunday

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