Skilton’s Late Goal Lifts Orange Over Albany

Sunday, August 30

3 pm

Syracuse University

2-2-0

Albany

1-3-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Albany	0	1	1
Syracuse	0	2	2

8/30/2015 6:14:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

SYRACUSE, N.Y.- Junior Stephanie Skilton helped the Syracuse women's soccer team to a come-from-behind win against Albany on Sunday afternoon, scoring the game-winning goal in the 84th minute, helping the Orange to a 2-1 win on the second day of the New York Challenge Cup at the SU Soccer Stadium.

Syracuse (2-2-0) trailed Albany (1-3-0) after the 48th minute, but an equalizer from sophomore Eva Gordon in the 53rd minute followed by an eventual game-winning goal from Skilton lifted the Orange over the Great Danes. Junior Alexis Koval registered an assist on both Syracuse goals.

"The goal came off a stunning ball from Alexis," Skilton said. "She really did thread the needle and did an amazing individual job to get the ball through to me. At the end of the day, I had to be clinical in front of the goal and do my bit for the team."

The Orange outshot the Great Danes by a total of 15-7, including seven shots on target. Koval was sensational for Syracuse, setting up both Gordon and Skilton for their goals.

"We kind of put ourselves in a hole and we had to dig ourselves out, but we really came out in the second half with a mission," Koval said. "We had to come from behind and get a goal to tie it up and we just kept plugging away with more offensive attack down the line."

"Alexis did really well. Both balls she played into the box were fantastic and she set up her teammates for fantastic finishes," head coach Phil Wheddon said. "All around it was a great day for Alexis."

Sophomore goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan tallied three saves on four Albany shots on goal to help Syracuse secure its second win of the season.

Albany scored the first goal of the game, coming in the 48th minute as Mariah Williams collected a shot from Alexa Schneider off the crossbar to beat Brosnan. With their backs against the wall, the Orange eventually tied it up on a top-notch finish from Gordon.

Koval set up Gordon with a through ball down the middle of the field in the 53rd minute as Gordon beat Albany goalkeeper Alana Brennan to the right side of the net for the equalizer.

The Orange continued to apply pressure on the Great Danes, putting numerous shots on target until Skilton became the hero. Koval dribbled down the left side of the pitch, delivering a cross inside the box that found the foot of Skilton on a sliding effort to beat Brennan. The goal from Skilton coming in the 84th minute would eventually be enough to secure Syracuse the win in the New York Challenge Cup.

With St. John's beating Colgate in the first contest on Sunday, the Red Storm became the outright winner of the New York Challenge Cup. The Red Storm beat Syracuse 1-0 on Friday and followed that performance with a 1-0 win today over the Raiders.

At the conclusion of the New York Challenge Cup, all coaches selected an All-Tournament Team. The team is located below.

Rachel Daly, St. John's
Georgia Kearney-Perry, St. John's
Diana Poulin (GK), St. John's
Morgan Tinari, St. John's
Maya Pitts, Syracuse
Alexis Koval, Syracuse
Stephanie Skilton, Syracuse
Catherine Williams, Colgate
Jenna Panepinto, Colgate
Martina Loncar, Colgate
Caitlyn Paltsios, Albany

Syracuse will play next on Thursday when the team travels to Connecticut to take on the Huskies at 5 p.m. Live stats are available via Cuse.com.

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