tfpiccot's Blog

Through nearly 17 minutes of play in Saturday's NCAA quarterfinal at the Carrier Dome, the normally-explosive Syracuse offense had mustered only one shot and no goals. With Boston College holding a 3-0 advantage, the Orange needed some kind of spark.

It got one from Katie Webster, and then the flood gates opened.

Webster's free-position goal with 13:09 remaining in the first half kickstarted an 8-1 run that helped propel SU to an 11-9 victory and a third-consecutive trip to the national semifinals. The Orange will face Virginia in Towson, Md., on Friday with a spot in the national championship game on the line.

However, the win was not an easy one. Thanks to a series of well-executed slides and double-teams by the Eagles, Tewaaraton finalists Alyssa Murray and Kayla Treanor struggled to generate any offense. Luckily, their teammates stepped in to fill the void.

"We figured they were going to do something similar to that, but they obviously did that even more so this game," said Murray in regard to the defensive pressure. "Every time I got the ball and they slid, I kept looking back to the top to Katie, Bridget (Daley) and whoever was there."

After Webster finally put the Orange on the board, Daley answered with one of her own to further cut the deficit. The latter later scored again to give the Orange a 5-4 lead, one it would not relinquish.

Daley has provided a boost to the Syracuse lineup since returning from a broken foot, and Saturday was no exception. She made a number of hustle plays and picked up a key draw control late in the game.

"We believed and trusted, and (Daley) did all the work that she needed to do," SU head coach Gary Gait said, "and now she's back and doing what she was dreaming about."

The Eagles mounted a charge in the second half thanks to Moira Barry's three tallies, including one with only 1:09 remaining in the game. However, Natalie Glanell scored her only goal of the season 49 seconds later to seal the victory.

BC midfielder Kate McCarthy was proud of the way her team played and said their plan to contain Murray and Treanor nearly worked.

"Unfortunately, (Katie) Webster and other girls stepped up pretty nicely," she said.

Murray commended the Eagles, saying she felt like she had been facing seven defenders at once. However, she also credited her teammates for stepping up to make plays.

And that depth throughout the lineup could be the key to capturing the first national championship in program history next weekend.

"We're not ready to go home," Murray said. "We want to go all the way, We're a team with a mission."

Senior goaltender Kallie Billadeau called it the biggest win in team history.

While that may or may not be true, there’s no doubt Syracuse (3-4) certainly made a statement against a national powerhouse Friday night.

Sparked by 43 saves from Billadeau and goals from four different skaters, the Orange surged past No. 3 Boston College (5-2), 4-1, in front of 258 fans at Tennity Ice Pavilion.

“We really haven’t had a ton of signature wins, or very few I guess, but it ranks right up there,” head coach Paul Flanagan said. “We need good memories early in the year to carry us through the middle part of the year, and hopefully into the playoffs.”

Only 2:44 into the contest, center Jessica Sibley took a pass from Danielle Leslie and eluded two defenders below the left faceoff circle en route to her third goal of the season.

But even with an early 1-0 lead, the Orange had little time to get complacent.

The Eagles applied plenty of pressure in its offensive zone, drawing three minor penalties by Syracuse in the first frame. However, Flanagan’s penalty killers clogged all shooting lanes in front of the net and preserved the one-goal advantage.

“Every time there’s a blocked shot on the penalty kill, it just pushes the team up,” forward Julie Knerr said. “We needed those. It might have saved the game.”

In total, the Orange shut down eight Boston College power-play opportunities. Billadeau certainly came up big, but she received a lot of help from her teammates as well.

“There’s a big focus on sacrificing the body and blocking shots,” Billadeau said. “It’s pretty great what these girls do. I mean, they’re throwing themselves in front of 80-mph shots.”

They were even doing it on offense.

In the midst of a power-play opportunity, Kaillie Goodnough ripped a slap shot from just inside the Eagles’ blue line. The puck deflected off the stick of a well-positioned Allie LaCombe and into the cage to give Syracuse a 2-0 advantage early in the second period.

Margot Scharfe later added an insurance tally to increase the lead to three.

Meanwhile, the Orange defense continued to cause havoc in its own zone, limiting Boston College to only 10 shots on goal. The Eagles had a golden opportunity on a breakaway with the clock running down in that middle frame, but Knerr dove to the ice to knock the puck away.

Although she was called for a hooking penalty, Knerr probably saved a goal. It was just one example of Syracuse’s ability to recover from mental mistakes.

“Sometimes you make a bad one, but like today we always have our teammates’ back after one that maybe screwed up,” Knerr said. “When we play all together like that, that’s how we come out with a W,”

Midway through the third period, Kate Leary poked home her own rebound to put the Eagles on the board.

However, that would be the only goal allowed by Billadeau. The senior stopped 43 shots, which would be nerve-wracking for most goaltenders.

But not Billadeau.

“I like it. It keeps me busy, keeps me in the game,” she said.

Sadie St. Germain provided the final dagger with her second goal of the season.

The Orange returns home Nov. 22 for a clash with Robert Morris.

“If we can replicate that effort," coach Flanagan said, "we’re gonna win a lot of hockey games.”

The last time Syracuse football took the field for a live game, the Orange manhandled West Virginia in blizzard conditions at Yankee Stadium during the 2012 New Era Pinstripe Bowl.

But much like the weather during that victory, the team has undergone dramatic change over the past seven months.

The most important difference can be found on the Syracuse sideline. Former head coach Doug Marrone bolted for the Buffalo Bills, allowing then-defensive coordinator Scott Shafer to inherit his first head coach position in the collegiate ranks. Shafer also replaced a few SU coaches who joined Marrone in Buffalo with a few fresh faces, most notably namely Chuck Bullough defensive coordinator and George McDonald offensive coordinator.

But on the field, Syracuse lost a number of key contributors. Quarterback Ryan Nassib and offensive lineman Justin Pugh were both drafted by the New York Giants, while safety Shamarko Thomas and wide receiver Alec Lemon were picked up by the Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans, respectively.

Needless to say, all of this movement has sparked a lot of flux throughout the Syracuse depth chart.

The latest example of this can be found in the team media guide, which now contains the most recent version of the chart. While some positions have seen little change, others look much different than they did one year ago.

Here is a summary of how the depth chart breaks down prior to fall practice for the 2013 season. The chart is updated as of June 25.

Quarterback

The main conundrum on everyone’s mind is the task of replacing Nassib. His impact on the team last year cannot be understated. Without Nassib’s poise in the pocket during the second half of the season, the Orange would have likely been shut out of bowl contention.

As of now, Terrel Hunt is the favorite for the starting nod. Although his arm is not the strongest, Hunt is the most athletic quarterback on the Syracuse roster. If he can attack opponents vertically with effectiveness, he will have the most upside of any returning SU quarterback.

Meanwhile, John Kinder and Charley Loeb are both posted as second-team backups.

The real wild card will be Oklahoma transfer Drew Allen. He is not listed on the chart because he did not arrive prior to the release date. However, Orange fans were gushing as soon as they learned he was considering the move to Syracuse. They believe his time in the pass-heavy Sooner offense could give him an edge over all three of his teammates. Only time will tell if that is indeed the case.

Backfield/Half-back

There are no real changes at the running back position. Seniors Jerome Smith and Prince-Tyson Gulley return after combining for more than 2,000 rushing yards one year ago. They should form one of the best tandems in the ACC.

Senior Clay Cleveland is listed as the number-one fullback ahead of Adonis Ameen-Moore. In addition, Ashton Broyld is tagged as the team’s hybrid half-back.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Lemon and Marcus Sales proved to be a formidable duo during Nassib’s record-setting season.  Although their production can’t be fully replaced, Shafer has a few weapons to work with.

According to the depth chart, Jarrod West and Adrian Flemming are his two favorites. In West’s case, this isn’t much of a surprise. He is a large target that can outmuscle opposing defenders. Flemming is similarly built, but lacks game experience as a receiver.

Realistically, wide receiver will be a timeshare for the Orange. West is the clear number one, but Flemming falls into a group with Jeremiah Kobena, Chris Clark and others. At least one of them, but preferably all, will need to step up for Hunt and the quarterbacks.

As expected, Beckett Wales is listed as the top tight end.

Offensive Line

The first-team offensive line from left to right reads as follows: Sean Hickey, Rob Trudo, Macky MacPherson, Nick Robinson and Ivan Foy.

Without question, MacPherson is the leader of this unit. He’s the most experienced of the group and one of the most reliable centers in the country, which is evidenced by his spot on the Rimington Award watch list.

Defensive Line

Meanwhile, the first-team defensive line features Robert Welsh and Micah Robinson at the end positions, with Eric Crume and Jay Bromley at the two tackle positions.

Bromley should cause the most trouble for opposing quarterbacks. Although his numbers weren’t stellar, he showed numerous flashes of brilliance when he was teamed with Deon Goggins and Brandon Sharpe last season. The line’s success could be determined by whether or not he can take the reins as a true leader.

Another intriguing player will be Iowa transfer John Raymon. He’s a huge body with plenty of upside.

Linebackers

This is where you will find the heart of the Orange defense: Marquis Spruill. The New Jersey native played in every single game during his collegiate career and consistently produced. He can pursue runners with ease and blow up plays in the backfield. He will be the spark plug of Chuck Bullough’s defensive unit.

To Spruill’s outside are juniors Cameron Lynch and Dyshawn Davis.

Two other linebackers with something to prove are Josh Kirkland and Luke Arciniega. Both junior college transfers are raw talents, but they could develop into valued playmakers once adjusted to the Division I level.

Secondary

Keon Lyn and Ri’Shard Anderson form the current tandem at cornerback. Lyn had a breakout game against Temple and emerged as a solid corner last season.  Anderson’s season was much quieter, but he also delivered in key spots. Although not ideal examples of a “shutdown corner,” Lyn and Anderson are very serviceable and calm in coverage.

Don’t forget about Brandon Reddish either. He will likely remain a reserve, but he will be called upon throughout the season.

Ready to help fill the void left by Thomas at safety are Durell Eskridge and Jeremi Wilkes. Wilkes has plenty of experience, but Eskridge does not. Still, Eskridge did record two sacks and 36 tackles in his redshirt freshman season. If he can build on that success, the Orange secondary could quietly become a huge advantage.

Special Teams

Senior Ross Krautman enters his final season having made 48 career field goals, good for fourth on the school’s all-time list. Despite pressure from Ryan Norton in the spring, it looks as if Krautman will be the starting kicker and add to that total. Norton should handle kickoffs, while Jonathan Fisher is all but guaranteed to handle punting duties.

Kobena is slated to return kickoffst, and that likely won’t change prior to week one. Finally, Ritchy Desir is listed as the team’s punt returner despite struggling at times last season.