Moving On! Orange Advance with 2-1 Win over Penn

Sunday, November 20

Syracuse, N.Y.

2 PM

Syracuse University

15-2-4, 5-1-2

Penn

13-3-2, 6-1-0

Penn

Syracuse

Moving On! Orange Advance with 2-1 Win over Penn

11/20/2022 4:32:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Highlights

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse men's soccer advances to the NCAA Championship Sweet 16 for the first time since 2016, as the No. 3 seed Orange rallied past Ivy League champion Penn in overtime, 2-1. No. 12 seed Cornell awaits Syracuse in the third round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Quakers struck first, as Nick Schimbeno headed Penn in front in the 52^nd minute. Syracuse responded in the 60^th minute, as sophomore Nathan Opoku leveled the scoring with his ninth goal of the season. After neither team could find the net again in regulation, senior forward Levonte Johnson sent Syracuse through to the next round with a goal 57 seconds into overtime.

'Cuse improves to 15-2-4 on the season, the most wins in a season since 2015. The Orange outshot the visitors, 23-11.

"We're excited to still have an opportunity to play next week," head coach Ian McIntyre said after the match. "That was college soccer at its finest. You had two good teams leaving it out there, going toe-to-toe."

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Neither team could find the back of the net in the first half. Syracuse (15-2-4, 5-1-2 ACC) was the more aggressive side, as efficient passing from midfielders Jeorgio Kocevski and Amferny Sinclair allowed the Orange to control possession. Stifling defensive play from Abdi Salim, Christian Curti and Olu Oyegunle held the Penn (13-3-2, 6-1-0 IVY) attack to just two shots in the first half.

The Orange took seven shots in the first half. Syracuse came close to grabbing the lead right before the halftime break, but Opoku's shot in the 40^th minute was saved by Penn goalkeeper Nick Christofferson.

Seven minutes into the second half, Penn snatched the lead off a corner kick. Defender Ben Do crossed the ball into the box, as Schimbeno headed the ball past Russell Shealy for the opening strike.

Despite being down a goal, Syracuse continued to push the tempo, relying on junior midfielder Lorenzo Boselli to create space in the final third. The equalizer arrived in the 60^th minute of action. Kocevski held up play in the box and spotted Opoku darting towards goal. The Liverpool, New York native slipped a pass to Opoku, who turned and fired a powerful shot into the top right corner, drawing the score level at one.

After both sides failed to find another goal in regulation, a Syracuse match went to overtime for a second time this postseason.

Just 57 seconds into overtime, Syracuse snatched the lead and eventual match-winning goal. Sophomore midfielder Giona Leibold dribbled by multiple Quakers defenders, finding open space on the left wing. The German wingback lobbed a cross towards Johnson. The first team All-ACC attacker took a touch then slotted the chance away for the go-ahead goal.

With just a little over a minute left in the match, Shealy came up clutch with his third save of the afternoon. Another Penn corner found Schimbeno. The midfielder shot right in front of Shealy, but the Cartersville, Georgia native snatched the ball to
secure the win.

Syracuse outshot Penn, 23-11, finishing with eight shots on goal. Shealy recorded three saves.

OF NOTE:

Syracuse wins an NCAA tournament match for the first time since 2019.
The Orange advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2016.
Opoku and Johnson are tied for the squad lead in goals with nine.
Johnson recorded his 50^th career point.
Noah Singelmann made his 70^th career appearance.

UP NEXT:

Syracuse hosts No. 14 seed Cornell in the NCAA Championship Third Round next weekend. The Orange and Big Red meet for a second time this season, as Cornell handed Syracuse its second loss of the season on Oct. 4. The contest will be streaming live on ESPN+.

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