Syracuse’s Road Woes Continue in Second Consecutive Draw

By Tom Russo

CitrusTV Women’s Soccer Beat Reporter

PITTSBURGH, Pa.- Nicky Adams is probably feeling like a broken record right now because that’s exactly how her team is looking.

The good news today for Syracuse (2-4-2, 0-0-1 Atlantic Coast) is that they finally snapped their five-match scoreless streak. The bad news is for the second consecutive match the Orange played to a draw, this time a 1-1 final with Pittsburgh (3-4-2, 0-0-1 Atlantic Coast).

Syracuse’s first goal since August 29th came from a penalty kick by Taylor Bennett. The goal was her second penalty kick goal of the season for the Orange, in the 61st minute. Rachel Rasins provided the scoring for Pittsburgh, scoring her first career goal in the 38th minute.

But while the final scoreline was dead even, the match itself was anything but that.

Once again, Syracuse could not generate a lick of offense. The team finished with eight shots, which sounds respectable until you take into account that only one of the eight was actually on target. Worse yet Syracuse only mustered a single shot in the entire first half, coming in the 40th minute. That shot required a free-kick just outside the box, which set up Bennett for a header which she sent sailing well over the cross-bar.

The lack of shots is nothing new for the Orange, particularly on the road. The most shots Syracuse has taken in a road match this year is the 10 they attempted at Kent State (1-4-1, 0-0 Mid-America). The Orange have averaged a pedestrian 7.6 shots per game on the road.

Accuracy has been an even greater issue for Syracuse, as only 12 of the 38 shots they’ve taken on the road this season have been on goal.
Perhaps the biggest mystery though is at home Syracuse becomes a veritable Gatling gun, averaging more than twice as many shots as they average on the road, at 18.7 per match. Though they still have about the same accuracy as a Gatling gun, with 24 of their 56 attempts being on frame.

The good news for Adams and the Orange then is that they get to come home for a brief two-game homestand now. It will start on Thursday when undefeated No. 20 Louisville (7-0, 0-0 Atlantic Coast) comes to the SU Soccer Stadium for Syracuse’s ACC home opener. The match will also be the Orange’s first match against a ranked opponent this season.

twrusso@syr.edu  ǀ @TomRusso24