Jankouskas Scores First College Goal In Season-Opening Loss To Siena

Wednesday, September 1

SU Soccer Stadium

7 p.m.

Syracuse University

Siena

Brett Jankouskas tallied SU's first goal of 2010 Wednesday against Siena.

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

Jankouskas Scores First College Goal In Season-Opening Loss To Siena

9/1/2010 10:48:20 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score | Photos | Highlights/Post-game Interviews

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Freshman Brett Jankouskas scored a goal in his first college game, but Siena (1-0) ultimately spoiled head coach Ian McIntyre's Syracuse debut. The Saints erupted for five goals to hand the Orange (0-1) a 5-1 loss in the season opener for both teams Wednesday, Sept. 1 at the SU Soccer Stadium.

McIntyre took over the Orange program in January after recording a 71-36-25 record in seven seasons at Hartwick College. After nearly nine months on the job, he led Syracuse onto the pitch for the first time Wednesday.

A crowd of 1,231 turned out to watch McIntyre's first game, which began with Siena grabbing a 1-0 lead on a Falko Friedrichs goal in the sixth minute following a Saints corner kick.

Following the goal, Syracuse regrouped and was the more dangerous team for the majority of the first half. Senior Manny Sevillano nearly equalized the match in the 31st minute, but his shot from outside the box hit the right post. The Orange continued to attack, however, Friedrichs found the net again, this time with a header in the 43rd minute off a dazzling throw-in by Joey Tavernese to give the Saints a 2-0 lead at the half.

Jankouskas, who entered the game as a sub in the opening period, cut the Siena advantage in half (2-1) with his strike 3:29 into the second half. Sophomore Mawuena Agbossoumonde and redshirt senior Geoff Lytle recorded assists on the play with some nifty work in the midfield.

After Jankouskas' goal the Orange seemed to have the momentum, but then Siena's Emery Welshman took over. Welshman had a hand in Siena's final three goals, assisting on a Tavernese goal in the 54th minute and scoring two of his own in the 65th and 73rd minutes, respectively, to put the game away.

“In a dark kind of way I'm quite proud of the guys,” McIntyre said after the match. “I thought at times we played some good stuff. After conceding five goals its hard to say your back four played well, but at times I thought they did. Ultimately, a couple of soft restart goals cost us tonight.”

Siena had four players record multi-point games. Welshman finished with a game-best five points for the Saints. Friedrich tallied four points. Siena also got a pair of assists from James Beeston and one goal and one assist from Tavernese.

Redshirt senior Jeremy Vuolo made his first start in goal for the Orange. He played almost 67 minutes and made one save before being relieved by redshirt sophomore Ryan Jones, who played the remainder of the game.

Goalkeeper Phil Chabot played all 90 minutes for the Saints and recorded four saves.

The Orange returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 4 with a match at Adelphi. It's the first of five straight road games for Syracuse. Kickoff for the Adelphi match is set for 7 p.m. at the Panthers' Outdoor Complex.

Match Notes: The crowd of 1,231 was the fifth-largest in the history of SU Soccer Stadium and the 14th time the Orange drew at least 1,000 fans for a match … Agbossoumonde's assist on Jankouskas' goal was his first collegiate point … Lytle's helper was the sixth of his career … Siena's victory was its first in nine tries against the Orange … Syracuse is now 8-1-0 all-time against the Saints.