Men's Soccer to Host Canisius in Home Opener

Syracuse (0-1-0) vs. Canisius (0-2-0)
Game Details	Thursday, Sept. 1 \| Syracuse, N.Y. \| 7 p.m. SU Soccer Stadium \| Weather
Game Coverage	TV: None \| Radio: None Orange All Access: Live Stats Twitter: @suorangeempire
Syracuse Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule \| Stats \| Notes
Canisius Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule \| Stats

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The Orange men's soccer team (0-1-0) will face Canisius (0-2-0) in its home opener on Thursday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. Admission for Thursday's game, and all Syracuse home games, is free. The first 100 fans on the grass hill behind the far goal will get a free t-shirt. Fans are also encouraged to bring school items to be donated to those in need. After the game, student-athletes will be available for autographs.

Syracuse is coming off a one-goal loss to Colgate in its season opener last Saturday. The visiting Griffins return to New York after wrapping up a season-opening trip to the West Coast.

SU IN HOME OPENERS
Since 1975, Syracuse is 29-7-0 in home openers. The Orange is 12-3-0 in home openers at the SU Soccer Stadium, dating back to Aug. 31, 1996 when the team opened the facility by defeating Adelphi, 1-0.

LAST TIME OUT
Syracuse opened the 2011 regular-season in Hamilton, N.Y. with a 1-0 setback to Central New York rival Colgate. After a scoreless first half, Colgate freshman Jimmy McLaughlin tallied what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 53rd minute.

The team had a great chance to even the score in the 79th minute when senior Dan Summers had a shot miss just wide of the Colgate goal. In the final seconds of the game, senior goalkeeper Phil Boerger sent a ball into the Colgate box, the Orange could not win it as Colgate headed the ball out of bounds with no time remaining.

The Orange recorded only three shots in the contest, but the play of Boerger kept Syracuse in it. He made six saves, including two in the first half, to keep the defending Patriot League regular-season champions in check.

NINE MAKE DEBUT
Syracuse's regular-season opener at Colgate not only marked the start to the 2011 season, but the first time several players donned an Orange jersey. Boerger, freshman Grant Chong, junior Ted Cribley, freshman Chris Makowski, freshman Jordan Murrell, freshman Nick Perea, Summers, and freshman Skylar Thomas all started their first game for Syracuse. Rookie Jide Oluyedun also made his SU debut, coming on as a substitute in the first half. Head coach Ian McIntyre started five freshmen in the match and six started the second half.

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN GRIFFINS
Canisius traveled to the West Coast for its first two games of the season. The Golden Griffins suffered losses to Cal-State Northridge and San Diego State, losing 2-0 and 2-1, respectively. Sophomore Will Hudson netted the club's only goal of the weekend.

Junior Sam Zarka is the team's leading returning scorer after posting six points on two goals and two assists in 2010. Kareem Gray started 15 matches in 2010 and the first two games of 2011. Gray has 17 saves and a 2.00 goals-against average this season.

Head coach Dermot McGrane is in his first season at the helm of the Canisius program. Prior to Canisius, McGrane was the head coach at Niagara for nine years. Overall, McGrane has a 61-88-21 career record.

THE SERIES AGAINST CANISIUS
Thursday night's matchup will mark the 10th time Syracuse and Canisius have met. Through the first nine matches, the Orange has never lost to the the Golden Griffins, winning eight games and tying one.

Overall, Syracuse has outscored Canisius, 47-5, in their nine previous meetings. In their first match on Sept. 26, 1984, SU scored a program-record 16 goals. Erik Miller Sundsted also tied a school record with four goals in the contest.

Last season, the two teams played to a 1-1 draw. After falling behind early, Nick Roydhouse scored the equalizer in the 38th minute.

UP NEXT
Syracuse will face its second straight MAAC oppnent when it visits Siena for a 12 p.m. match on Sunday, Sept. 4.

Syracuse University Athletics

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