SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse men’s soccer team scored the first two goals of the contest but couldn’t hold on in a 4-2 setback to No. 7 Notre Dame in the quarterfinals of the BIG EAST Tournament on Saturday, Nov. 3. The game was played in front of 1,675 fans, the largest crowd in the history of the SU Soccer Stadium.
The Orange (12-6-0), which was hosting a postseason game for the first time in school history, took an early lead in the 14th minute. Senior Lars Muller (Brandenburg, Germany) dribbled the ball down the left side before crossing it to senior Ted Cribley (Sheffield, England). Cribley put his shot in the back of the net for his fourth goal of the season. Orange goalkeeper Alex Bono (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) shut out the Fighting Irish (14-3-1) in the first half, recording three saves.
Syracuse struck first in the second half. Muller again started the play, passing the ball to senior Louis Clark (Brighton, England) in the box. Clark put his shot past Notre Dame goalkeeper Patrick Wall to give the Orange a two-goal advantage in the 48th minute of play.
The Fighting Irish started their comeback in the 62nd minute when Patrick Hodan scored on a left-footed shot past a diving Bono and into the left side of the goal. Notre Dame tied the score 11 seconds later when Kyle Richard came in from the left side and scored on an assist from Hodan. Syracuse’s offense continued to apply pressure, producing three shots and two corner kicks during the next 10 minutes of play, but SU couldn’t take advantage of its opportunities.
Notre Dame tallied the game winner at the 76 minute mark. Bono came out of the goal to play Ryan Finley, but lost his footing on the wet surface, Finley passed the ball to Hodan, who scored on an unguarded net to put the Fighting Irish up 3-2. Finley added and insurance tally in the 83rd minute for the 4-2 final.
Bono finished with a career-high seven saves, while Wall had three. Notre Dame outshot Syracuse, 21-12, and had eight corner kicks to five for the Orange.
Syracuse will await its NCAA Tournament fate until the 48-team bracket is announced on Monday, Nov. 12.
Courtesy: SU Athletics
