Transfers Shine Bright in Men’s Soccer’s Draw at Vermont

By: Andrew Selover | @AndrewSelover 
CitrusTV Men’s Soccer Beat Reporter 

No. 15 Syracuse Men’s Soccer took an early lead against Vermont but never found enough offense in a 1-1 draw against the Catamounts.  

Following two home wins to start the season, Ian McIntyre’s squad jumped into the NCAA Men’s Soccer rankings on Monday at number fifteen overall. In its first road match of the year, Syracuse started on the front foot at Vermont. Levonte Johnson quickly put the Orange in front as he buried a shot off the crossbar and into the back of the net in the 10th minute.  

Johnson, a transfer from Seattle, received multiple preseason honors heading into his first season with the ‘Cuse. Most notably, the forward is a member of the Hermann Trophy Watch List. Johnson played his best thus far with the Orange on Friday, but the lead did not last long.  

Just eleven minutes later, Yaniv Bazini found a bouncing ball in the box and volleyed it into the bottom left corner past Russell Shealy. The goal represented the first with the Catamounts for Bazini, an NC State transfer. The equalizer was the first goal the Orange have allowed defensively all season.  

For the next seventy minutes, SU and UVM battled back and forth. Each team went on lengthy runs with offensive dominance, but neither team created strong chances. In the end, the two goals were the only two shots on frame throughout all ninety minutes.  

The road trip continues for Syracuse on Monday at UConn. The Huskies emerged victorious over NJIT 3-1 tonight to improve to 2-1-0 on the young season. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Joseph J. Morrone Stadium.