Orange Ties Pitt In BIG EAST Opener

Saturday, September 25

SU Soccer Stadium

6 p.m.

Syracuse University

Pittsburgh

9/25/2010 10:16:07 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score | Photos

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Orange men's soccer team (1-4-2, 0-0-1) opened BIG EAST play with a 0-0 double-overtime draw against Pittsburgh (4-2-1, 0-0-1) on Saturday, Sept. 25 in front of 1,334 fans at the SU Soccer Stadium. Redshirt senior goalie Jeremy Vuolo tied his career high with nine saves in the match to help the Orange to its second shutout of the season.

For Vuolo, it was his second straight standout performance. He also made nine saves in a 1-1 tie at Cornell Wednesday. Vuolo's shutout of the Panthers Saturday was his first as a member of the Orange and the 19th clean sheet of his career.

Right off the bat, Syracuse registered the first offensive chance of the game when sophomore midfielder Mark Brode tested Pittsburgh keeper Hami Kara 15 seconds in to the match. However, that was one of few offensive opportunities Syracuse generated in the first half as the Panthers outshot the Orange, 11-2, in the opening 45 minutes.

Vuolo was the difference. He made five stops for the Orange in the first half to help keep the match scoreless.

In the second period, the game evened out with both clubs earning several opportunities to grab the lead. In fact, both Syracuse and Pittsburgh had shots ricochet off the crossbar in the second half. Junior Nick Roydhouse rung a left-footed shot off the bar in the 51st minute that would have put the Orange in front, and the Panthers' Ryan Brode, the older brother of SU's Mark Brode, hit the cross bar in the 60th minute with a shot that would have given Pittsburgh the advantage.

In the overtime periods, the Orange outshot Pittsburgh, 3-2, however, it was the Panthers that had the best opportunity to clinch the victory. With less than two minutes to go in the second overtime, Terry Boland broke free and headed for the SU net. He was challenged by Vuolo who made a sliding save on Boland's shot to preserve the stalemate and help Syracuse earn an important point in the BIG EAST standings.

Roydhouse led the Orange with five shots. Ryan Brode also registered five shots to pace the Panthers. Kara finished the match with two saves for Pittsburgh. Both of his stops were in the first half.

Syracuse is back in action on Tuesday, Sept. 28 when its steps out of conference to face MAAC foe Canisius. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the SU Soccer Stadium. The game will be streamed live on SUathletics.com via Orange All Access.

Match Notes: Thirteen members of Syracuse's 1985 BIG EAST Championship team were recognized prior to the game to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Orange's second conference title … The crowd of 1,334 was the third-largest in the history of the SU Soccer Stadium … The Orange is 2-0-1 in its last three outings against the Panthers … Sophomore Konrad Andersson made his Orange debut when he entered the game as a sub in the first half … Andersson missed SU's first six games due to injury.