Syracuse women’s soccer’s defense struggles in loss to No. 13 Louisville
By Jake Bowen | @Jake_Bowen12
LOUISVILLE, Ky. | Syracuse women’s soccer’s (4-9-2, 1-7 Atlantic Coast Conference) defense struggled in its 6-1 loss to No. 13 Louisville (10-1-3, 4-0-3 ACC) on Friday. The Cardinals’ offense struck right out of the gate and proved to be too much for the Orange.
Louisville got things started in just the second minute. Leading scorer Karina Peat tallied her eighth goal of the season. The sophomore is tied for seventh in the ACC in scores. The goal was assisted by defender Brooklyn Lee.
The Cardinals didn’t stop there. Louisville recorded its next two goals in the span of 20 minutes. Midfielders Amelia Swinarski and Liza Suydam extended Louisville’s lead to three through 20 minutes of action.
That’s when tragedy struck. Off a Cardinals corner in the 35th minute, Syracuse midfielder Moo Galbus inadvertently headed the ball into the Orange’s own net. It was SU’s second own goal of the season after defender Bree Bridges recorded one in Syracuse’s 1-0 loss to Binghamton on Sept. 3.
Louisville led 4-0 at that point, but things didn’t stop there. Cardinals forward Fina Davy scored two goals in the span of two minutes, in the 39th and 40th minute. It’s the junior’s first two scores of the season. The Cardinals went into the half with a commanding 6-0 lead.
The ‘Cuse’s defense struggled in the first 45 minutes. Syracuse allowed six goals on seven shots, five of which were on goal. The other touch on net was Galbus’ header on SU’s own goal.
Syracuse made a key change at the break. Orange goalkeeper and ACC saves leader Maya Naimoli was replaced by Maggie Manning. Naimoli made just one stop in the first half. Manning started against Niagara on Aug. 27. The sophomore allowed two goals and made two saves in the Orange’s 2-1 loss to the Purple Eagles. However, Manning made one save and didn’t allow a goal on Friday.
The Orange’s goalie change seemed to jump-start the offense. Syracuse scored its lone goal in the 53rd minute off a beautiful strike from defender Chloe Joseph. The senior got enough air under the ball to sail it over the leaping reach of Louisville goalie Brielle Baker for SU’s first score since Sept. 24.
The final 40 minutes were a back-and-forth affair. Despite the five goal margin, both offenses went neck and neck in the stat sheet. Syracuse ended the night with seven shots, four on goal, while Louisville tallied nine shots, six of which were on goal.
SU returns home for a couple of conference games to finish its season. The ‘Cuse hosts Miami (9-3-2, 3-2-1 ACC) next Thursday. The Orange have won three of the last five games against the Hurricanes. However, Miami’s nine wins are the most in a single season since 2016. Not to mention the Hurricanes are 6-2 on the road this fall. First touch is set for 7 p.m.
For coverage of that game and the rest of the Syracuse women’s soccer season, follow @Jake_Bowen12 and @CitrusTVSports on X.
