Syracuse University
Louisville
#5 Syracuse and #11 Louisville Set For Friday Night ACC Action
10/13/2022 3:31:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Game Details: Friday, October 14, Louisville, KY., 7 p.m.
Live Video:Â ACCNX
Live Coverage:Â Stats
Twitter:Â @cuseMSOCÂ
Syracuse Links: Notes | News | Roster | Schedule
Louisville Links: Roster | Schedule |Â
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – No. 5 Syracuse men's soccer heads to No. 11 Louisville on Friday, Oct. 14 for a 7 p.m. match. The contest is pivotal for the Atlantic Division race. The Orange are in first place with 12 points, while the Cardinals are in second with 10. After Friday's showdown, just two Atlantic Coast Conference matches remain on Syracuse's schedule. Fans can catch every second of the top-25 clash on ACCNX.
ORANGE UPDATE:
The Orange have a 10-2-1 record on the season. It's the first double-digit win season since 2016 and the best record through 13 matches since 2014. 'Cuse is ranked No. 5 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll, spending four straight weeks in the top-10, which marks the longest streak since 2016. Syracuse is No. 3 in the latest NCAA RPI ranking.
Syracuse has a +21-goal differential, which is the best margin in the conference. The Orange have 27 goals scored and six goals allowed. Both marks are tied for second in the ACC. Sophomore forward Nathan Opoku leads the conference in goals scored (7) and points (18).
A defining trait of the 2022 Orange is an ability to step up in big-time matches. Against ranked opponents, Syracuse is 4-1. The Orange are 2-2-1 against teams in the RPI's top-25. They have wins over Clemson (No. 7) and Wake Forest (No. 16), a draw against Vermont (No. 10), and losses against Cornell (No. 4) and Virginia (No. 17).
The Orange have found success on the road in the 2022 season. They have a 4-0-1 record away from the SU Soccer Stadium. That is a huge improvement from last season, when Syracuse went 2-5-1 in road matches. The Orange lead the conference in road goal difference with a margin of +11.
Defense is still the foundation of the 2022 Orange squad. Syracuse is tied for the national lead in clean sheets with eight. The Orange have allowed six goals on the season, which is tied for second in the ACC.
Russell Shealy is on the precipice of history. The Cartersville, Georgia native has a goal against average of 0.50, which would break the single season program record set by Alex Bono in 2014 (0.55). Shealy has 40 saves on the season, which is a new career high and leads the ACC.
LAST TIME OUT:
A dynamic and explosive attacking performance propelled 'Cuse to a 6-1 victory over nonconference opponent Loyola. Five different Orange scored a goal, as Syracuse outshot the Greyhounds 19-14. 'Cuse did not allow a goal from open play, as Loyola's lone goal came from a successful penalty kick.
Levonte Johnson and Opoku both struck twice in the first five minutes, while Curt Calov scored the third goal of the first half in the 36th minute. After Kelan Swales goal in the 57th minute, Giona Leibold, Opoku, and Francesco Pagano all found the back of the net in the final 21-minutes of action. Sophomore midfielder Michal Gradus made his collegiate debut. Redshirt-senior goalkeeper Russell Shealy recorded five saves, just one shy of tying a career high.
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS:
Louisville is the No. 11 team in the country with a record of 8-2-2. The Cardinals are led by fourth-year head coach John Michael Hayden. The Louisville, Kentucky native has a record of 33-25-6. Hayden led Louisville to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances in 2019 and 2021, advancing as far as the third round in 2019.
The Cardinals are 5-1-1 on their home turf, Dr. Mark & Cindy Lynn Stadium. The only loss came against No. 3 Duke on Sept. 10. Louisville has a +11-goal differential, which ranks fourth in the ACC.
In its last time out, Louisville beat Evansville 2-0 at home. After a scoreless first 45 minutes, junior forward Aboubacar Camara put the hosts ahead in the 55th minute. A strike from substitute forward Brandon McManus secured the victory in the 77th
minute.
Freshman forward Konstantinos Georgallides leads the team in points with 10. The Famagusta, Cyprus native is tied for the squad lead in goals with Camara (4).
The last contest between the Syracuse and Louisville was a high scoring, back-and-forth match. Louisville stole the three points a 5-4 match that ended in the second overtime. Deandre Kerr scored twice in the first half, while Curt Calov and Christian Curti both scored equalizing goals in the second half. Louisville's Josh Jones ended the match with a golden goal in the 103rd minute.
THE SERIES:
Friday night's match represents the 19th meeting between Syracuse and Louisville. The Cardinals lead the all-time series, 11-2-5. The last time the Orange beat Louisville was in 2008.
Louisville survived a trip to Syracuse in the last meeting in 2021. The match was a high scoring contest, as the two sides were tied at four after 90 minutes.
UP NEXT:
Following the trip to Louisville, Syracuse returns to the SU Soccer Stadium on Tuesday, Oct. 18 for its final midweek nonconference match against Bucknell. The contest is scheduled to kickoff at 7 p.m. The Orange then faceoff against NC State on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. Both matches will be streaming live on ACCNX.
