Syracuse Opens BIG EAST Play Saturday

Syracuse (2-4-0, 0-0-0) vs. Marquette (2-4-1, 0-0-0)
Game Details	Saturday, Sept. 24 \| Syracuse, N.Y. \| 7 p.m. SU Soccer Stadium \| Weather
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Marquette Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule \| Stats

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Orange men's soccer team (2-4-0, 0-0-0) begins BIG EAST Conference play on Saturday, Sept. 24 when it hosts Marquette (2-4-1, 0-0-0) at the SU Soccer Stadium. Game time is set for 7 p.m. Admission for Saturday's game, and all Syracuse home games, is free. The first 200 fans in the student section will receive a Syracuse men's soccer wristband.

Since 2000, SU holds a record of 4-4-3 in BIG EAST openers. This will mark the third time the Orange will start conference play against the Golden Eagles. The teams played to a 1-1 draw on Sept. 16, 2005. On Sept. 19, 2008, SU won 1-0 in Milwaukee, Wis.

Syracuse returns home after participating in the University of Akron Tournament this past weekend. The Orange went 0-2-0 in Ohio, suffering setbacks to Cal Poly and No. 16 New Mexico. Marquette is currently riding a two-game unbeaten streak. The Golden Eagles played Michigan State to a 1-1 draw on Friday, Sept. 16 and scored a 2-1 double-overtime victory against Michigan on Sunday, Sept. 18.

ORANGE AIMS TO EXTEND HOME WINNING STREAK
After traveling to Akron, Ohio for the University of Akron Tournament last weekend, Syracuse returns for back-to-back home games (vs. Marquette and Binghamton) at the friendly confines of the SU Soccer Stadium.

The Orange is 2-0 at home for the first time since 2007 and is seeking its best home start since 2005 when the team won its first four games at the SU Soccer Stadium.

ROYDHOUSE AND MURRELL EARN HONORS
Senior Nick Roydhouse and freshman Jordan Murrell were each named to the all-tournament team for their performances at the University of Akron Tournament this past weekend. Roydhouse has also named to the College Players to Watch™ BIG EAST Red Division Top 20 list by TopDrawerSoccer.com.

Roydhouse tallied a goal in the Orange's first game in the University of Akron Tournament against Cal Poly. The senior captain currently leads the Orange in scoring with five points (two goals and one assist) on the season. Roydhouse recorded the game-winner in overtime against American and had an assist in the victory against Canisius.

Murrell scored a goal in the team's 2-1 overtime setback against No. 16 New Mexico this past weekend. The rookie's first career tally tied the game at 1-1 in the 83rd minute. Murrell has started all six games on defense this season for Syracuse.

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES
Through the first seven games of the season, Marquette has put together a record of 2-4-1 and is currently riding a two-game unbeaten streak.

This past weekend, the Mustangs faced two teams from the Big Ten in Michigan State and Michigan. After recording a 1-1 draw against Spartans, the Golden Eagles registered a 2-1 double-overtime victory against Michigan. Against the Wolverines, freshman Kelmend Islami played a long ball from junior goalkeeper David Check and chipped it over the Michigan goalie for the game-winner.

Freshman C. Nortey leads the team in scoring with seven points (three goals, one assist) on the season. Check has started six of Marquette's seven matches. He has 37 saves and holds a 1.35 goals-against average. Check leads the BIG EAST in saves and saves per game (5.43).

Louis Bennett is in his sixth season as the head coach of Marquette. Prior to his stint with the Golden Eagles, he coached 10 years at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Bennett owns a 154-124-34 overall record.

THE SERIES AGAINST MARQUETTE
Saturday's match will be the fifth meeting between Syracuse and Marquette. The Orange leads the all-time series, 2-1-1. The first meeting between the two schools came on Sept. 2, 1989 at the Wisconsin Soccer Classic in Madison, Wis. SU scored a 3-0 victory against the Golden Eagles. Since Marquette joined the BIG EAST in 2005, the series is tied at 1-1-1.

In their last meeting, Syracuse lost, 3-0, to the Golden Eagles in Milwaukee on Oct. 16, 2010. The game was tightly contested for the first 80 minutes, with Marquette leading 1-0. In the final 10 minutes, the Golden Eagles tallied two scores to pull away.

UP NEXT
The Orange will close out non-conference play by hosting Binghamton on Tuesday, Sept. 27. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at the SU Soccer Stadium.

Syracuse University Athletics

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