SU Outpaced by Harvard in 5-2 Loss

Hudson Ridley | Syracuse Women’s Soccer Beat Reporter

Syracuse Women’s soccer couldn’t keep up with Harvard in a 5-2 loss.

For the last few weeks SU’s offense was the main issue, but today the script was flipped. The Orange started off strong on offense with multiple opportunities in the first few minutes. Erin Flurey’s play on the right-side wing made it seem like the ‘Cuse would crack through first. Soon after, everything changed. 

Harvard’s offense took off in the 12th minute and never looked back. Three unanswered goals in minutes 12, 15 and 25 put the game out of reach just over a quarter of the way through. SU’s defense didn’t look any different from most games this season, the Crimson were just excellent. Only 10 minutes into the second half, Harvard tacked on a fourth goal to extend the lead.

For a moment the tide turned back in favor of the Orange. In the 66th minute Kendyl Lauher showed tremendous hustle in forcing a 1v1 turnover in the offensive third. Her hold up play created a cross to Anna Rupert who slotted it home to draw one closer. Just six minutes later, Erin Flurey drove a strike from 20-yards out to make it a game. However, all that momentum was for nothing. In the 77th minute Audrey Francois dribbled through SU’s back line and chipped Shea Vanderbosch to end Syracuse’s momentum.

The biggest bright spot of the night was yet another solid performance from Shea Vanderbosch. The Sophomore made eight saves and shut down countless breakaway opportunities.

Next task for SU is a matchup with Fairfield. The Orange are 2-0-1 all time against the Stags. That game will be Syracuse’s last chance for a tune up before ACC play.