How Syracuse Men’s Soccer can have a Perfect Week
By Josh Richardson | @joshrichy_04
Syracuse Men’s Soccer went 1-0-1 last week. The first undefeated week of the season since the last week of August (3-0 W vs. Niagara, 2-2 D vs. Charlotte). Now the Orange stay up in the 315 for a set of matches against teams that have given them fits over the last few seasons, including when SU won its lone national championship in 2022. The foes for the week: Cornell and Wake Forest. These two teams are trending in opposite directions. The Big Red started off their season 4-0-2 and just outside the top 25 national ranking. The Demon Deacons on the other hand started off the season as the 15th ranked team in the country……. Safe to say at 2-3-3, they are not anymore. Syracuse got back in the win column against Canisius and almost pulled one off against Louisville last week, so what can SU do to have the best week possible?
Cornell
Over the last three seasons, Syracuse is 0-2-1 against Cornell. That includes one of just two losses in its national championship-winning season. The Big Red have been the thorn in the Orange’s side when the teams hit the pitch and the best thing SU can do is forget about the past. Tomorrow is a new game against a new team on a new day. The ‘Cuse has played stellar defense through the first eight matches of the season. Outside of a few close-range free kicks and a lone penalty, keeper Tomas Hut has been outstanding this season. The problem has been scoring. You need to put the ball in the back of the net or else you won’t win any soccer games. With the exception of Canisius, Syracuse has scored just two goals in the month of September, one against Boston College and one against Louisville. Cornell has scored two or more goals in five of six matches this season. If the offense can’t keep pace, it’s going to be a long Tuesday night for Ian McIntyre’s crew.
Wake Forest
Wake Forest is a program that seems to always mirror whatever Syracuse is doing during the current season. When SU won its national championship two years ago, when these two teams met in the regular season, Wake was the 4th ranked team in the country. Last year, The Demon Deacons slipped a bit, but still tied the then-7th-ranked Orange team down in Winston-Salem. This year, both programs start off in the top 25, yet fall out after rocky starts. There isn’t much more you can ask for from a rivalry perspective than two teams who always seem to equalize each other. The key for Syracuse in this one is just to go out and dominate. It’s the first day of family weekend up in the 315 and while everyone may be focused on the Football game against Holy Cross the next day, there should still be a pretty good turnout at SU Soccer Stadium. The Orange will have a home crowd to back them and the best thing that can happen is a STATEMENT first ACC win of the season.
Both contests for Syracuse Men’s Soccer will be at 7:00 from SU Soccer Stadium. SU battles Cornell tomorrow, while Wake Forest comes to visit Friday night.
