Syracuse, Cornell Meet Again in NCAA Championship Third Round

Game Details: Sunday, November 27, Syracuse, N.Y., 2 p.m.
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Coverage: Stats I NCAA Tournament Central
Twitter: @cuseMSOC
Syracuse Links: Notes | News | Roster | Schedule
Cornell Links: Roster | Schedule

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – No. 3 seed Syracuse men's soccer hosts instate rival No. 14 seed Cornell in the third round of the NCAA Championship on Sunday, Nov. 27 at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $10 for the general public, $5 for senior citizens and youth ages 18 & under, and free for the first 200 Syracuse students with a valid SU ID. Fans can also catch the rematch between Syracuse and Cornell on ESPN+.

The Orange appear in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Championship for the fourth time in school history, all under the direction of head coach Ian McIntyre. The last time 'Cuse played in a third-round match was in 2016, a 1-0 loss against North Carolina.

ORANGE UPDATE:

Syracuse heads into the NCAA Championship Third Round with a 15-2-4 record, the most wins in a season since 2015. The Orange are just one of three Atlantic Coast Conference teams remaining in the bracket. A win against Cornell would be Syracuse's first Elite Eight appearance since 2015.

NCAA Championship Second Round play opened with Syracuse rallying past Ivy League champion Penn in a 2-1 overtime victory.

After a scoreless first 45 minutes, Penn found the opening goal in the 53^rd minute. Forward Ben Stitz found Nick Schimbeno off a corner kick, as the Orange conceded the opening goal for the first time this postseason.

Down a goal, Syracuse continued to find attacking chances, as the equalizer arrived in the 60th minute. Junior midfielder Jeorgio Kocevksi spotted sophomore forward Nathan Opoku making a run towards goal. The Accra, Ghana native collected the ball and fired a shot past Penn keeper and captain Nick Christoffersen to level the score at one.

After neither side could find a match-winner in regulation, a match went to overtime for a second time this postseason at the SU Soccer Stadium. Just 57 seconds into extra time, sophomore wingback Giona Leibold sent a cross to Levonte Johnson on the back-post. The veteran forward took a touch and converted the chance to send Syracuse to the Sweet 16.

The Orange outshot the Quakers 23-11 over the 110 minutes, recording eight shots on target. Redshirt senior goalkeeper Russell Shealy finished with three saves, one of them coming in the last minute of action.

Shealy leads one of the strongest defensive units in college soccer. Anchored by centerbacks Abdi Salim, Buster Sjoberg, Chrisitan Curti and Olu Oyegunle, the Orange have recorded 10 shutouts and allowed 13 goals. Both of those marks are second in the ACC.

Johnson and Opoku are one of the most dynamic attacking duos in the nation. The two forwards have combined for 18 goals, 11 assists and 47 points. Johnson is second in the ACC in points with 24.

SCOUTING THE BIG RED:

Cornell is the No. 14 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament with a 14-3-1 record. The Big Red have won 10-plus matches for four-straight seasons. Head coach John Smith is in his fourth season, going 54-39-9 during his time in Ithaca. Smith leads Cornell to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1977.

The NCAA Championship Second Round match between Cornell and Maryland was a thriller, as all three goals were scored in the last six minutes of The Big Red's 2-1 victory. Maryland keeper Niklas Neumann kept Cornell off the scoreboard with four saves in the first half.

In the 84th minute, sophomore Danny Lokko put the Big Red ahead with his second goal of the season. Just three minutes later, the British forward did it again, doubling Cornell's advantage. Maryland's last minute comeback bid fell short, as the Terrapins couldn't follow up a strike from Albi Ndrenika in the 88th minute.

THE SERIES:

Sunday's match represents the 75th meeting between Syracuse and Cornell. The Big Red lead the all-time series, 36-30-8. The two upstate New York institutions met on the soccer pitch for the first time in 1921.

The two sides meet for a second time in 2022, as Cornell handed 'Cuse its last loss in a 2-1 match on Oct. 4. at the SU Soccer Stadium.

The Big Red got on the board in the 13th minute after a Syracuse own goal. In the 67th minute, Cornell was awarded a penalty. Junior forward Matthew Goncalves converted the penalty kick, putting the visitors up 2-0. In the closing moments of the match, Opoku scored a penalty to prevent the shutout.

Syracuse outshot Cornell 17-9, as Cornell keeper and Ivy League Rookie of the Year Ryan Friedberg recorded five saves.

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Syracuse, Cornell Meet Again in NCAA Championship Third Round

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Players Mentioned

Levonte Johnson

Giona Leibold

Olu Oyegunle

Abdi Salim

Russell Shealy

Buster Sjoberg

Syracuse University Athletics