Orange, #12 Irish Clash in ACC Opener

Syracuse vs. Notre Dame
Game Details	Friday, Sept. 7 \| Syracuse, N.Y. \| 7 p.m.
Game Coverage	Live Video: ACCN Extra Live Coverage: Stats Twitter: @cuse \| @CuseMSOC
Syracuse Links	Notes \| News \| Roster \| Schedule
Notre Dame Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse hosts No. 12/23 Notre Dame on Friday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. in the ACC opener for both teams. The first 250 fans to enter the SU Soccer Stadium will receive a free T-shirt. Admission and parking are free.

The game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra. Live stats will be available on Cuse.com, and fans can follow along on Twitter @CuseMSoc.

A LOOK AT THE ORANGE
Syracuse enters the match with a 2-1-0 record. The Orange had their first home game of the season this past Sunday against the Hofstra Pride. Tajon Buchanan scored an unassisted goal in the 87th minute to give Syracuse a 4-3 victory. Buchanan had a career day with five points.

NO SOPHMORE SLUMP FOR BUCHANAN
Tajon Buchanan recorded four goals, two assists and 10 points for the Orange and he shows no signs of slowing down this year. Buchanan leads the team this season with three goals, two assists and eight points just three games into the season. He had a career night against Hofstra as he led Syracuse to a 4-3 victory, scoring two goals and assisting on another. Buchanan ranks third in the ACC in points and is tied for third in goals.

SCOUTING THE IRISH
Notre Dame enters Friday's match with a 2-0-1 record. The Fighting Irish defeated two ranked opponents last weekend and claimed the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic championship hosted by Indiana. Notre Dame jumped 12 spots to No. 12 in this week's coaches poll.

Patrick Berneski has scored three of Notre Dame's six goals this season. He is this week's ACC Defensive Player of the Week after helping the Fighting Irish post shutouts against No. 18 Connecticut and No. 22 Dartmouth last weekend. Ryan Krutz has played every minute in goal for Notre Dame this season. He has a 0.31 goals-against average and a .833 save percentage. Krutz has posted two straight shutouts.

THE SERIES
Friday's match will be the 19th all-time meeting between Syracuse and Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish have a 13-3-2 advantage in the series.

The teams last met in 2016 in South Bend. Notre Dame scored in the 45th minute to take the lead, but the Orange answered in the 79th minute on a set piece. The score remained tied until the 90th minute when Jon Gallagher scored to give the Fighting Irish a 2-1 victory.

Syracuse and Notre Dame played for the ACC Championship in 2015 in South Bend. Current student assistant coach Ben Polk scored the only goal of the match in the 47th minute and the Orange recorded a 1-0 win to claim their first ACC title. Polk was named the tournament MVP.

Notre Dame last visited the SU Soccer Stadium in 2014. The Fighting Irish came into the match ranked No. 4 by the coaches and No. 1 by Soccer America. Notre Dame capitalized on a free kick in the 76th minute that was created on a counterattack after a 'Cuse scoring chance and posted a 1-0 victory.

UP NEXT…
Syracuse will begin a two-game road trip Monday, September 10 at Cornell.

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Players Mentioned

Tajon Buchanan

Syracuse University Athletics