Men’s Soccer Drops ACC Opener

By Luke McGrath

CitrusTV Men’s Soccer Reporter

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Despite outshooting Notre Dame (3-0-1, 1-0 Atlantic Coast) 16-8, Syracuse (2-2, Atlantic Coast) dropped its ACC opener 3-2 Friday night at the SU Soccer Stadium.

On a disappointing night for the Orange, there were a few bright spots at the individual level. Sophomore defender Sondre Norheim scored his first collegiate goal in the 84^thminute. The Norway native received the ball in the right side of the box, gave a touch and then launched a rocket from a tough angle over the keeper, off the cross bar and into the bottom left corner to pull the Orange within one.

Bryne had three shots on the night, just as many as he had in 17 starts last season and his explanation to his first goal was simple.

“I just fired, hoped for the best and it went in,” Bryne said.

But Byrne was not the only one to net their first goal as UAB transfer Massimo Ferrin did the same in the 66^thminute when he converted a penalty kick. Ferrin noted one of the biggest differences he has seen in his short time in Syracuse is the atmosphere at the stadium.

“It’s amazing, to have all these fans here, too look behind the net and see it full and the stands full and everybody’s making noise. It’s cool, definitely as a team I can tell you for every player you feel that adrenaline rush. You’d always rather play at home in front of a crowd like this,” Ferrin said.

This season the Syracuse roster looks much different from last year, including Ferrin there are ten new players on the SU roster, all of which are playing in their first ACC league game. Ferrin said everyone had some extra energy for the opener, but also some extra nerves.

“Everybody has a little bit of an extra jump in the first game, but you we have to carry that, now, we gotta learn from our mistakes and still have that same drive, that same jump in our next game.

Head coach Ian McIntyre said he thought the newcomers carried themselves well despite not getting the result they were hoping for.

“I’m not going to be too hard on our guys because I’m proud of the way they pushed and if that’s the first time you’ve seen us play I think you’d realize that we’re a pretty good college team,” McIntyre said.

Despite being proud of the performance, Coach McIntyre knows that’s not what counts at the end of the day.

“We’re in the results business,” McIntyre said. “I think with our overall 90 minute performance, we should’ve take away something from this game.”

Fortunately for the Orange, they will not have to sit on this loss for too long, they are back in action Monday traveling to take on Cornell (3-0, 0-0 Ivy). Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Berman Field.

@L_McGrath14 | Lumcgrat@syr.edu