Orange Drop 1-0 Decision To #18 St. John’s In New York Challenge Cup

Friday, August 28

7 pm

Syracuse University

1-2-0

St. John's

3-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
St. John's	0	1	1
Syracuse	0	0	0

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

Orange Drop 1-0 Decision To #18 St. John’s In New York Challenge Cup

8/28/2015 10:06:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

SYRACUSE, N.Y.- The Syracuse women's soccer team was defeated by #18 St. John's in its home opener on Friday night, losing to the Red Storm by a final score of 1-0 in the second contest of the New York Challenge Cup at the SU Soccer Stadium.

Syracuse (1-2-0) battled eighteenth-ranked St. John's (3-0-0) until the final whistle, but a lone goal from forward Rachel Daly in the 55th minute lifted the Red Storm over the Orange. St. John's has won all three of its games this season by a final score of 1-0 and Daly has played a role in each goal.

"St. John's is a fast, dynamic, physical team and it was evident," head coach Phil Wheddon said. "Tonight was a great game and it will prepare us for the ACC, which is what the non-conference is all about."

Despite the Orange getting outshot 14-8 on Friday night, both Syracuse and St. John's each finished with five shots on goal. In net, sophomore goal keeper Courtney Brosnan made four total saves for the Orange while Diana Poulin pulled off the shutout for the Red Storm, matching Brosnan with four saves herself.

"St John's is a very good team and were really physical on every 50/50 battle," Brosnan said. "They made it a tough match, but I thought we had a lot of opportunities. There are a lot of positives from tonight that we can take into Sunday."

The goal from Daly came on an empty-net opportunity as Brosnan was taken down in the box on a 50/50 ball.

"The goal was a tough goal to give up, but that's how it goes sometimes I guess," Brosnan said.

Sophomore Eva Gordon played well on attack for the Orange, striking a shot on goal in the late moments of the game that would have been the equalizer. Poulin had to come out of net and make a diving save in order to keep Syracuse scoreless.

Syracuse will play against Albany on Sunday at 3 p.m. for its second contest in the New York Challenge Cup. Albany (1-2-0) was defeated by Colgate (1-2-0) on Friday afternoon by a final score of 2-0. Both the Orange and Great Danes will enter Sunday's match with an overall record of 1-2-0.

"We have to be professional and take care of our recovery to get ready for Sunday," Wheddon said. "We have to come out with the same enthusiasm and same aggressive attack and be ready to take it out on Albany."

Syracuse and Albany will follow the first match on Sunday, which is St. John's against Colgate at 11:30 a.m. in the second day of the New York Challenge Cup.

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