Midseason Report Cards for Syracuse Men’s Soccer
By Josh Richardson | @joshrichy_04
After last week’s 1-0 loss to Cornell and 2-1 loss to Wake Forest, the NCAA Men’s Soccer regular season is just over halfway through. After winning the National Championship two seasons ago, along with multiple NCAA Tournament appearances over the last few years, Syracuse is having its worst season since 2020. In fairness to the Orange, it’s a young team. The roster for SU consists of 13 freshmen, the most of any class in the program. Add that to the fact there is only one returning starter from last season (Nick Kaloukian), there was bound to be some growing pains. As Syracuse sits 3-4-3, let’s get into some grades for how key members of the team have performed 10 matches in.
Nick Kaloukian – B
Kaloukian is the one returning starter from last season in a year he scored 6 goals for the Orange. So far this year, his tally is at just two, with both coming in the first three matches of the season. The junior is currently in his longest scoring drought of his collegiate career, but he’s still forced the attack for SU. The problem for the Orange this season has been the lack of goals scored which has a direct correlation to lack of attempts. Kaloukian has ripped at least one shot on goal (on target) in 9/10 matches this year. He is an aggressive leader, demanding excellence out of his teammates and wants to play at 110% every second. It’s evident for how he streaks around the field like a banshee chasing after the ball. You have to respect the hustle and being the only member of the championship team, he knows where the program can go. But the results just haven’t been there overall, so for that he gets a B.
Tomas Hut – B-
Tomas Hut this year won the goalkeeper battle during the summer and during the preseason. He beat out current backup and last year’s starter Jason Smith for the role. We saw the senior take his new title and run in the first few matches. Hut won ACC defensive player of the week after his role in the 1-0 and 3-0 wins over Colgate and Niagara to start the season. Since then, it’s been tough. Crucial goals allowed in such unfortunate times have prevented SU from stealing wins or holding onto draws. The most notable of which came down in Louisville when the Cardinals scored on a free kick with less than a minute to play. Hut has been shaky but that partially falls on his defense in front of him. Playing keeper is the hardest position in soccer and arguably one of the hardest across all of sports. He’s kept the Orange in contests they maybe haven’t belonged in, but the inconsistency has earned him a B-.
Chimere Omeze – C+
Speaking of inconsistencies… Chimere Omeze has arguably been SU’s best defensive player this season, at least by the eye test…. And he’s only a freshman. His poise, instincts, and knowledge of the game is one of the reasons he’s been an everyday starter since opening night. The issue for the youngster has been his mistakes. Not that they happen often, but that they happen at the worst. possible. times. When Syracuse lost 1-0 to LeMoyne, the lone goal came off a penalty kick in which he committed the foul. When SU lost 2-0 to Virginia Tech and it was 0-0 in the second half, the first goal was on a free kick just outside the box that he committed the foul on. And when the Orange fell to the Cardinals down in Louisville, the game-tying goal in the final minute came on another free kick when he committed the penalty. It’s the sloppy errors that have cost SU a much better record so far this season. When you think about it, those mistakes are the difference between a 3-4-3 team and a 6-2-2 team. Of course hindsight is 20/20 and you can’t change the past, but the discipline has to be better than that. Chimere gets a C+.
Overall, it’s not the end of the world for this team. At WORST, it’s a rebuilding season with a young, promising core, and a bright future. At BEST, it’s a team that will have to claw tooth and nail down the stretch to make the NCAA tournament for the third consecutive season. The next test for Syracuse comes tomorrow when the Orange travel to the state capitol to face UAlbany. Kickoff against the Great Danes is slated for 7.
