Red Storm Edge Orange in NCAA 2nd Rd.

Sunday, November 24

Queens, NY

5 PM

Syracuse University

8-7-5, 2-4-2

St. John's

14-4-1, 6-2-1

Syracuse

St. John's (NY)

11/24/2019 9:15:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

QUEENS, N.Y. – Syracuse's second-half comeback came up just short against St. John's in the second round of the NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament as the Red Storm posted a 2-1 victory. The Orange end the season with a record of 8-7-5.

"One of the biggest factors was which team won the coin toss and had the wind in the first half," said Syracuse head coach Ian McIntyre of the 20-30 mph wind gusts. "There were tough conditions today and it gave St. John's, with the wind behind them, a little bit of momentum. Having said that, they scored on two shots on target. The second goal was a good goal, but I still think we could have got a body on the first – that was a free header in the box. That's been one of our Achilles all year is giving up soft goals, With all that, we were terrific in the second half. We just ran out of time."

HOW IT HAPPENED
After the Orange successfully turned a couple of St. John's offensive chances away, the Red Storm (14-4-1) broke through in the 19th minute. Sanoussi Sangary served the ball into the box where Brandon Knapp headed the ball into the right corner of the goal to give St. John's a 1-0 lead.

The Orange appeared to have tied the game in the 31st minute on a Luther Archimede goal, but the freshman was ruled offsides. Five minutes later, the Red Storm added to their lead when Skage Simonsen fought off a Syracuse defender and put his shot inside the back post to give St. John's a 2-0 halftime lead.

Syracuse was the more dangerous team in the second half. Senior Nyal Higgins hit the post with his shot and on the Orange's next possession, senior Massimo Ferrin scored on assists from sophomores Julio Fulcar and Hilli Goldhar in the 69th minute to cut the deficit to 2-1.

Sophomore Ryan Raposo had a chance to even the score in the 70th minute, but Red Storm goalkeeper Luka Gavran was there for the save. Ferrin nearly scored the equalizer when he blocked Gavran's goal kick, but the deflection went just wide of the net. The Orange continued to apply pressure but couldn't find the back of the net as St. John's held on for the 2-1 victory.

OF NOTE
The Orange outshot the Red Storm, 12-5, and earned five corner kicks while not giving up one to St. John's.

Raposo ends the season with 37 points on 15 goals. Both totals rank fourth on Syracuse's single-game record list. Ferrin recorded nine assists this season, which tie him for fifth place on the school single-season record list. In addition, Ferrin is tied for the second highest total for an Orange senior.

Syracuse made the program's seventh appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Orange now have an all-time record of 8-5-2 in the national tournament.