Three Straight Clean Sheets: How Syracuse Men’s Soccer Has Turned Its Season Around

By Adam Hipsky | @adamhipsky

Syracuse men’s soccer has quietly found its rhythm again. After an up-and-down start to the season, the Orange have strung together three straight wins — all shutouts — to climb back into position to host an ACC Tournament game. The victories over Colgate, Cal, and Boston College have not only steadied the team’s record but also reestablished the defensive identity that has been a staple of Ian McIntyre’s program.

The turnaround began at home against Colgate, where Carlos Zambrano delivered the most memorable performance of the season. His second-half hat trick, including an olimpico goal that reached the top of SportsCenter’s Top 10, gave Syracuse its first home win of the year and made McIntyre the winningest coach in program history with 142 victories. That result seemed to reset the tone for a group that had been struggling to find consistency on both ends of the field.

From there, the Orange carried their momentum west, shutting out Cal 2–0 in Berkeley behind second-half goals from Garrett Holman and Chimere Omeze. The performance marked a shift in confidence. Syracuse looked more composed in possession, used quick transitions to catch the Bears off guard, and relied on goalkeeper Tomas Hut’s best game of the season, which included a career-high seven saves. Back home a week later, a 1–0 victory over Boston College made it three in a row. Freshman midfielder Bryson Rodriguez scored the game’s only goal, a well-timed header off Giona Leibold’s cross, while Hut and the back line turned away 18 Eagle shots to secure another clean sheet.

The defensive improvement has been the defining factor in this hot stretch for the ‘Cuse. Earlier in the year, Syracuse’s unit at times broke down under pressure, leading to lapses late in matches, in particular against Stanford. That issue has largely disappeared. The back line, led by Omeze, Holman, and veteran Tim Brdaric, has been organized and aggressive in winning loose balls. Hut’s emergence as one of the league’s best goalies has given the unit added stability, and the midfield has been more disciplined in assisting the defense. Even when opponents have controlled possession for stretches, Syracuse has made them earn every chance. 

In the middle of the field, the balance has started to click. Zambrano’s move deeper into midfield has allowed the Orange to connect play more effectively, while veterans like Sachiel Ming and Kristjan Fortier have provided a sense of calmness. The emergence of young players such as Rodriguez and freshman Ivan Irinimbabazi has also given McIntyre more options in rotation. The group’s ability to dictate tempo and turn defensive stops into attacking chances has been one of the biggest changes from the early-season struggles.

The attack is still a work in progress, but has shown more variety and patience. Syracuse is creating quality chances from more than just set pieces rather than relying on individual brilliance. Against Cal, two goals came off throw-ins and rebounds. Both are signs of a team willing to do the dirty work around the box. Even in tighter matches like the one against Boston College, the Orange looked confident they would eventually find a breakthrough rather than forcing low-percentage shots.

Now, Syracuse sits eighth in the ACC, a spot that would be enough to host the first round of the ACC tournament. But with upcoming games against SMU at home and Pitt on the road, there’s still work to be done. The key to sustaining this run starts with maintaining defensive discipline. When Syracuse stays compact, they’re difficult to break down and often control the rhythm of the match. That has to remain the foundation. 

The second key is continuing to manage the midfield effectively. The Orange have looked their best when they keep the ball on the ground and move it quickly through Zambrano, Ming, and Leibold. If that trio can continue to control tempo, it takes pressure off the back line and keeps the attack in rhythm. Third, Syracuse needs to start games with the same urgency they’ve shown in the second halves of recent wins. Scoring first has consistently changed the tone of their matches, allowing them to dictate pace and stay organized rather than chasing a deficit. Earlier in the season, SU was far from its best when trailing, as shown in the Duquesne loss. 

Finally, the Orange need to make SU Soccer Stadium an advantage again. While the recent win over Boston College was a step in the right direction, home results have been far from desirable this season. The matchup with SMU offers a chance to reestablish that presence in front of their own crowd before heading into a tough pair of matches on the road.

For McIntyre, the recent surge is a reflection of what he’s built at Syracuse: a team that doesn’t panic in adversity and grows stronger as the season progresses. This three-game stretch has resembled the confident strides a team took that won an ACC title and national championship in 2022. If the Orange can sustain their defensive structure and continue to find goals by committee, they have every reason to believe this second half of the season could lead to another postseason run.

The opportunity is there, and Syracuse — for the first time this year — is playing like a team ready to seize it.