It's been an incredible season for Orange athletics. Just a few weeks ago, the Syracuse field hockey and cross country teams won national championships. Now, the men's soccer team has punched its first-ever ticket to the Elite Eight. It's not a national championship, yet, but the team is only three wins away- which to expect wouldn't be too outlandish.
On Sunday, the Orange beat the winningest program in the nation, the Seattle Redhawks, 3-1. The Orange held a two-goal lead for most of the contest. En route to the Elite Eight, Syracuse has enjoyed a six-game winning streak, beating the likes of some of the best in the country such as UNC Chapel Hill, Clemson and Notre Dame. If you look seven games in the past, though, the last team the Orange lost to was Boston College by a score of 2-1. The team that will be visiting the SU Soccer Stadium this Saturday is none other than Boston College.
In Sunday's victory over Seattle, the Orange got the ball rolling right away. At the 1:30 mark, Miles Robinson [14] scored on a header off of Liam Callahan's corner kick. The goal was the earliest in a match that Syracuse scored all season.
Going into the 20th minute, Noah Rhynhart [15] blasted a shot from the middle of the box straight to the back of the net. The diving goalie didn't stand a chance. Callahan [16] had the assist again.
Seattle had their fair share of chances in the first half, but they were all blocked by Orange goalie Hendrik Helpert [17] or went just wide or over the crossbar. However, in the 66th minute of the match, a juggled ball in the Syracuse box eventually got punched through Helpert's legs and made the score 2-1.
The one-goal lead was short lived, as just four minutes later, Kamal Miller [18] sent a bullet to the back of the net off a free kick that went loose in the box.
Syracuse would not surrender a goal for the final 20 minutes, allowing head coach Ian McIntyre's team to see another game in the NCAA Tournament.
Boston College beat No. 2 Georgetown to arrive at the Elite Eight. The test, for both teams, will certainly be difficult. Opening kick is set for 2 p.m.
