Pieles' Late Goal Lifts Orange Past Hofstra

Tuesday, September 13

7 pm

Syracuse University

6-0-0

Hofstra

2-3-1

HOFSTRA

Syracuse

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

9/13/2016 10:28:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Freshman Johannes Pieles scored on a header with 2:50 remaining in regulation to give the No. 5/3 Syracuse men's soccer team a 1-0 victory against Hofstra on Tuesday, Sept. 13. The Orange remain undefeated this season with a 6-0 record.

Pieles' goal came on a set piece when Syracuse was awarded a corner kick after senior Sergio Camargo's shot was deflected by a Hofstra defender over the goal line. Redshirt senior Liam Callahan served the ball into the box where he connected with Pieles, who headed the ball into the net for his third goal of the season and his second game-winner in 2016.

"(Set pieces) are an important part of our attack," said Syracuse head coach Ian McIntyre. "We're throwing numbers forward so you create chances, as a result balls go out for corners. It comes down to quality serve. With Liam (Callahan) and Oyvind (Alseth), I think we have two good strikers of the ball. When balls are put into those dangerous areas, it becomes difficult for teams. That was a quality finish tonight."

Pieles nearly gave the Orange the lead in the second minute of play, but his shot went just outside the far post. Redshirt junior Kenny Lassiter had perhaps Syracuse's best scoring chance in the first half, but Hofstra goalkeeper Leo Arkhanhelskyi was there for the save off the hard shot inside the box. Overall, the Orange produced 11 shots in the first 45 minutes, while limiting the Pride (2-3-1) to three.

However, Hofstra tested Syracuse early in the second half when Danny Elliott sent his shot past Syracuse goalkeeper Hendrick Hilpert toward the far post, but senior defender Louis Cross' was there to knock the ball away to keep the Pride off the scoreboard. The Orange appeared to have taken the lead in the 47th minute, but senior Chris Nanco's goal was disallowed after the Orange was called for offsides. Syracuse continued to send numbers forward and finally broke through on its second corner kick of the second half.

"I thought we created enough chances tonight in the run of play," McIntyre said. "I thought we played some of our best soccer tonight, especially in the first half. The game opened up, probably a little bit too much, in the second half. That was a fun college match tonight."

The Orange finished with 15 shots and five corner kicks to six shots and one corner kick for Hofstra. Hilpert recorded two saves, while Arkhanhelskyi had three saves.

Syracuse returns to ACC play on Friday, Sept. 16 when it hosts No. 15/11 Boston College at 7 p.m. The game is a rematch of last season's NCAA Tournament quarterfinal, which the Orange won, 1-0, to advance to the College Cup for the first time in school history.