Orange Seeks 3-0 Start, Hosts Niagara Friday

Syracuse (2-0-0) vs. Niagara (1-0-1)
Game Details	Friday, Aug. 31 \| Syracuse, N.Y. \| 7 p.m. SU Soccer Stadium \| Weather
Game Coverage	TV: None \| Radio: None Orange All Access: Video \| Live Stats Twitter: @Cuse
Syracuse Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule \| Stats \| Notes
Niagara Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule \| Stats

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Orange men's soccer team (2-0-0) looks to start its campaign 3-0 for the first time since 2006 when it hosts Niagara (1-0-1) on Friday, Aug. 31 at the SU Soccer Stadium. Game time is set for 7 p.m. and admission is free.

Live video for the match is available on Orange All Access.

THE MATCHUP
The Orange will face its third consecutive instate foe when the Purple Eagles visit the SU Soccer Stadium. SU has won 11 straight contests versus Niagara, with the Purple Eagles last registering a victory over the Orange in 1977.

1982 CHAMPS TO BE HONORED
The 1982 men's soccer squad, which captured the inaugural BIG EAST Championship trophy, will be honored before the match to celebrate the 30th anniversary of that historic occasion. The team will also be recognized on Saturday, Sept. 1 at halftime of the football team's opener versus Northwestern at the Carrier Dome.

The 1982 Orange recorded a 17-3-2 record, and claimed the BIG EAST tournament crown by defeating Boston College, 1-0, in six overtimes. Jim Powers struck in the 161st minute to give SU the victory. The match remains the longest in conference history (160:26). The team's 17 wins are a school record.

SCOUTING NIAGARA
The Purple Eagles went 1-0-1 last weekend at the Duquesne Invitational. Niagara tied Pittsburgh, 1-1, on Aug. 24 and beat Duquesne, 4-2, on Aug. 26. Five different players have goals for the Purple Eagles, including Rene De Zorzi who had the tying tally against Pittsburgh. De Zorzi was named co-MVP of the tournament.

Goalie Brett Petricek totaled 13 saves in the two games, including six in the Duquesne victory.

Chase Brooks is in his second season as Niagara's head coach. He owns a 10-4-6 overall record.

SU AGAINST THE METRO ATLANTIC ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
The Orange has had great success against teams from MAAC, going 43-7-1 all-time against the 10 current members of the league. SU is 9-0-1 against Canisius, 1-0-0 against Fairfield, 3-2-0 against Loyola (Md.), 7-0-0 against Marist, 15-3-0 against Niagara, and 8-2-0 against Siena.

The Orange has never faced Iona, Manhattan, Rider or Saint Peter's.

RECAPPING THE BINGHAMTON WIN
The Orange won its first road opener since 2008 when it traveled to Binghamton on Tuesday, Aug. 28 and captured a 1-0 victory. In the 59th minute, freshman Jordan Vale headed a corner kick from Jordan Murrell into the back of the net for the winner.

Freshman Alex Bono registered three saves to earn his second straight shutout. Bono became the first true freshman keeper since Robert Cavicchia in 2005 to open the year with back-to-back clean sheets.

UP NEXT…
Syracuse hosts Colgate in a 7 p.m. match on Monday, Sept. 3 at the SU Soccer Stadium.

Syracuse University Athletics

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