Saturday, August 16
SU Soccer Stadium
7 p.m.
Syracuse University
vs
Hartwick
'Cuse Hosts Hartwick in Exhibition Opener
8/15/2014 11:20:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Orange kicks off preseason slate versus local rival
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Orange men's soccer team kicks off its preseason schedule with an exhibition match against Hartwick on Saturday, Aug. 16 at the SU Soccer Stadium. Start time is 7 p.m. and admission is free.
The Orange brings back 20 letterwinners, including 12 players that started half the games, from a 2013 squad that posted a 10-7-1 overall record in its first year as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Syracuse also welcomes nine talented newcomers who add depth to one of the most experienced rosters in the nation.
Saturday night's match is also exhibition opener for Hartwick, which went 5-9-4 and 3-2-1 in its last year in the Mid-American Conference. The Hawks move to the Sun Belt Conference for 2014 and also play Siena and American International in the preseason before opening the regular-season at Robert Morris.
ORANGE STELLAR IN PRESEASON PLAY
Syracuse has made the most of its preseason friendlies over the past three seasons, posting a record of 7-1 during that time in exhibition action. The Orange defeated Fordham, Ryerson and Georgetown during the 2013 preseason. Its only exhibition loss since 2011 was a 2-0 defeat at Boston College in 2012.
THE HARTWICK-SYRACUSE CONNECTION
SU head coach Ian McIntyre previously spent 11 seasons with the Hartwick program, four as a player and seven as head coach.
From 1992-95, McIntyre led the Hawks to two NCAA Tournament berths and a 52-20-7 record during his four seasons in uniform. Prior to taking the Orange reins, McIntyre coached the Hawks from 2003-09, leading the program to four 10-win seasons during his tenure and an appearance in the 2005 NCAA Championship.
The two full-time coaches on McIntyre's staff also have Hartwick ties. Associated head coach Jukka Masalin was McIntyre's assistant for two years with the Hawks before accompanying him to Syracuse. In addition, first-year assistant Matt Verni is a Hartwick grad and was McIntyre's college teammate for two years. Verni also served as the Hawks' head women's soccer coach from 2007-13.
ABOUT THE ORANGE
Syracuse is coming off consecutive double-digit seasons for the first time in more than a decade and boasts one of the most experienced rosters in the country. The Orange returns 96.6 percent of its goal-scoring, the third-highest percentage in Division I. In addition, the members of the 2014 club boast 409 collegiate starts, which also ranks among the national leaders.
Highest Pct. of Goals Returning
SIU Edwardsville – 100.0 (14/14)
Evansville – 97.1 (33/34)
Syracuse – 96.7 (29/30)
North Carolina – 89.5 (17/19)
Missouri State – 88.2 (15/17)
Teams w/Most Career Starts
North Carolina – 560
Evansville – 422
Syracuse – 409
Virginia – 363
UNLV – 345
Sophomore Emil Ekblom is one of the premier finishers in the ACC. He was fourth in the conference with 10 goals a season ago. Classmate Alex Halis had the magic touch in 2013, notching six goals, including four game-winners.
Junior Alex Bono is already one of the most accomplished keepers in school history. He ranks in the top 10 on nearly every Orange goalkeeping record list, including goal-against average. Bono's 0.93 career mark is second in the Syracuse annals.
Bono backs an experienced group of defenders that includes three-year starters Jordan Murrell, Skylar Thomas and Chris Makowski.
SCOUTING HARTWICK
The Hawks also have an experienced roster, losing only three players to graduation, but two of those three were last season's top scorers (Will Broomfield, Max Walcott). Senior midfielder Chris Walter is Hartwick's top returning offensive player. Walter tallied two goals and two assists in 2013.
Senior goalkeeper Mateo Munarriz played every minute between the posts for Hartwick last season. He tallied 52 saves and recorded four shutouts.
Head coach John Scott is entering his fifth year after taking over the program for McIntyre in 2010. Scott was named the 2013 Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year after piloting the Hawks to upset wins over perennial powers Akron and West Virginia.
THE SERIES
Hartwick leads the all-time series with the Orange, 17-12-5. In the first pairing since 2009, the Orange scored twice in the second half and blanked the Hawks, 2-0, in the 2013 home opener.
UP NEXT
Syracuse continues its exhibition schedule Friday, Aug. 22 when its visits Akron for a 7 p.m. match at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
The Orange brings back 20 letterwinners, including 12 players that started half the games, from a 2013 squad that posted a 10-7-1 overall record in its first year as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Syracuse also welcomes nine talented newcomers who add depth to one of the most experienced rosters in the nation.
Saturday night's match is also exhibition opener for Hartwick, which went 5-9-4 and 3-2-1 in its last year in the Mid-American Conference. The Hawks move to the Sun Belt Conference for 2014 and also play Siena and American International in the preseason before opening the regular-season at Robert Morris.
ORANGE STELLAR IN PRESEASON PLAY
Syracuse has made the most of its preseason friendlies over the past three seasons, posting a record of 7-1 during that time in exhibition action. The Orange defeated Fordham, Ryerson and Georgetown during the 2013 preseason. Its only exhibition loss since 2011 was a 2-0 defeat at Boston College in 2012.
THE HARTWICK-SYRACUSE CONNECTION
SU head coach Ian McIntyre previously spent 11 seasons with the Hartwick program, four as a player and seven as head coach.
From 1992-95, McIntyre led the Hawks to two NCAA Tournament berths and a 52-20-7 record during his four seasons in uniform. Prior to taking the Orange reins, McIntyre coached the Hawks from 2003-09, leading the program to four 10-win seasons during his tenure and an appearance in the 2005 NCAA Championship.
The two full-time coaches on McIntyre's staff also have Hartwick ties. Associated head coach Jukka Masalin was McIntyre's assistant for two years with the Hawks before accompanying him to Syracuse. In addition, first-year assistant Matt Verni is a Hartwick grad and was McIntyre's college teammate for two years. Verni also served as the Hawks' head women's soccer coach from 2007-13.
ABOUT THE ORANGE
Syracuse is coming off consecutive double-digit seasons for the first time in more than a decade and boasts one of the most experienced rosters in the country. The Orange returns 96.6 percent of its goal-scoring, the third-highest percentage in Division I. In addition, the members of the 2014 club boast 409 collegiate starts, which also ranks among the national leaders.
Highest Pct. of Goals Returning
SIU Edwardsville – 100.0 (14/14)
Evansville – 97.1 (33/34)
Syracuse – 96.7 (29/30)
North Carolina – 89.5 (17/19)
Missouri State – 88.2 (15/17)
Teams w/Most Career Starts
North Carolina – 560
Evansville – 422
Syracuse – 409
Virginia – 363
UNLV – 345
Sophomore Emil Ekblom is one of the premier finishers in the ACC. He was fourth in the conference with 10 goals a season ago. Classmate Alex Halis had the magic touch in 2013, notching six goals, including four game-winners.
Junior Alex Bono is already one of the most accomplished keepers in school history. He ranks in the top 10 on nearly every Orange goalkeeping record list, including goal-against average. Bono's 0.93 career mark is second in the Syracuse annals.
Bono backs an experienced group of defenders that includes three-year starters Jordan Murrell, Skylar Thomas and Chris Makowski.
SCOUTING HARTWICK
The Hawks also have an experienced roster, losing only three players to graduation, but two of those three were last season's top scorers (Will Broomfield, Max Walcott). Senior midfielder Chris Walter is Hartwick's top returning offensive player. Walter tallied two goals and two assists in 2013.
Senior goalkeeper Mateo Munarriz played every minute between the posts for Hartwick last season. He tallied 52 saves and recorded four shutouts.
Head coach John Scott is entering his fifth year after taking over the program for McIntyre in 2010. Scott was named the 2013 Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year after piloting the Hawks to upset wins over perennial powers Akron and West Virginia.
THE SERIES
Hartwick leads the all-time series with the Orange, 17-12-5. In the first pairing since 2009, the Orange scored twice in the second half and blanked the Hawks, 2-0, in the 2013 home opener.
UP NEXT
Syracuse continues its exhibition schedule Friday, Aug. 22 when its visits Akron for a 7 p.m. match at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
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