Syracuse Can Kill Two Birds With One Stone on West Coast Trip
By Cole Purvis | @Cole_Purvis
The last two games for Syracuse women’s soccer were, frankly, foregone conclusions. SU lost to then No. 7 Florida State 4-0, and then to top-ranked Virginia 3-0. For a program that hasn’t won an ACC game in three seasons, it’s likely too far-fatched to think the Orange were going to come out on top against either of the nation’s elite teams.
However, this weekend, Syracuse has a real chance to collect that long-awaited victory. ‘Cuse faces California on Thursday, a squad that is 1-0-1 in conference, but has not faced a ranked team yet. The last unranked opponent SU played was SMU, who it drew with. If the Orange can channel the performance they mustered up in that game, they will have a real chance to win.
The other accomplishment that can be attained is an individual one. Goalkeeper Shea Vanderbosch is closing in on the program’s all-time saves record. She currently sits at 337 saves, trailing Courtney Brosnan, who finished her career with 344 stops.
Vanderbosch is coming off a 10-save outing against Virginia. It helps that SU faces many high-powered offenses that put shots on net at a high rate, allowing the ‘Cuse keeper to collect saves in bunches. Needing seven stops to tie the record, and eight to break it, it’s safe to assume Vanderbosch will take her place as the all-time leader this weekend. It would solidify her status as a legend in Syracuse women’s soccer history. That’s not a word to throw around lightly, but she deserves it.
While the game against Cal is winnable, Syracuse gets thrown right back into the fire on Sunday, playing #2 Stanford. The Cardinal have hit the ground running in their second year as an ACC member, with a 7-1-1 record. Senior Allie Montoya could be the biggest test, as the forward leads the ACC in shots on goal, with 21 through nine contests. That’s a blistering amount of attempts, and SU will need to up the aggression to force Montoya towards the boundary, and not allow her to work up the middle. Syracuse would perhaps be satisfied leaving Palo Alto with a draw, considering the opponent.
An Orange offensive unit that made noise early in the season has been silenced by its conference foes. SU has only one goal in its first three conference games, scored by Vita Naihin in the SMU match. Last time out against Virginia, Syracuse only ripped off two shots, with just one being on goal. The forwards have been far from even respectable as of late, although its a unit that has shown its capability in nonconference play. Goals are out there, but SU needs to control possession, which they haven’t.
For live updates of this week’s contests, follow @Cole_Purvis and @CitrusTVSports on X. Kickoff from Berkeley, California is Thursday at 7 p.m., with the next game at Stanford on Sunday at 4.
