#6 Orange Shut Out UMass in Opener

Friday, August 26

7 pm

Syracuse University

1-0

Massachusetts

0-1

UMASS

Syracuse

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

8/26/2016 10:05:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – No. 6 Syracuse's offense scored three times in the second half while the defense allowed just three shots in a 3-0 victory against Massachusetts in the season opener for both teams. The match was the first round of the Central New York Classic.

The Orange have now won their first match of the season four times in the last five years. Overall, Syracuse is 42-35-5 all-time in season-opening games.

"We'll take many positives out of tonight's performance," said Syracuse head coach Ian McIntyre. "We started four new guys today and a couple of others came off the bench. It's a good forward step. We were starting to get a little frustrated in the first half so that first goal from Chris (Nanco) was an important one because it opened the game up."

Syracuse dominated play in the first half and created several quality scoring chances. Redshirt senior Liam Callahan had the first scoring opportunity in the 10th minute, but his shot from the left side of the box went just wide. Senior Chris Nanco put together a nice run at the goal, but couldn't get off a shot. The Orange also had opportunities off free kicks, but one shot went off the crossbar, and senior Sergio Carmargo's try in the final minute of the first half was high.

Syracuse continued to apply pressure and broke through in the 49th minute. Senior Louis Cross played a long ball to Nanco, who beat two Minutemen defenders and put his shot in the bottom right corner of the goal. Callahan added to the lead in the 59th minute. Freshman Johannes Pieles faked a shot and played the ball to Callahan down the left side of the box. He blasted his shot into the back of the net off the left foot to extend the Orange's lead to 2-0.

Redshirt junior Kenny Lassiter added an insurance goal in in the 80th minute off an assist from Camargo for the 3-0 final. Syracuse outshot Massachusetts, 21-3. Sophomore goalkeeper Hendrik Hilpert was never really tested as he made one save in his seventh career shutout.

The Orange close out the Central New York Classic on Sunday, Aug. 28 against Loyola Marymount at 7 p.m. at the SU Soccer Stadium. Admission is free.

GAME NOTES: The crowd of 1,709 was the ninth-largest crowd in SU Soccer Stadium history.