Rutgers Scores Twice in the First Half; Defeats Orange, 3-1

Wednesday, October 18

SU Soccer Stadium

7:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

Rutgers

Pete Rowley netted the 10th goal of his career Wednesday versus Rutgers.

Rutgers Scores Twice in the First Half; Defeats Orange, 3-1

10/18/2006 9:49:55 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Rutgers (9-6-0, 6-4-0) got two first-half goals and went on to defeat Syracuse (6-8-1, 1-8-1) by the score of 3-1 in a BIG EAST men’s soccer match on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at the SU Soccer Stadium. Sophomore Pete Rowley (Reading, Pa.) netted the Orange’s only goal of the game at 71:01 to bring the SU within one, but Rutgers’ Nick Labrocca scored in the 77^th minute to seal the win for the Scarlet Knights.

Bart Koffeman got Rutgers on the board at 25:52 when he headed a shot past SU sophomore keeper Robert Cavicchia (North York, Ontario) from six yards out off a corner kick by Tomislav Barisic. The Scarlet Knights increased their lead to 2-0 in the 41^st minute when Adam Sternberger deflected a serve from Chris Moore inside the far post of the SU goal.

The Orange gained the momentum in the second half, recording nine of its 15 shots in the final stanza. Rowley cut the deficit to 2-1 when he booted a rebound of senior Andrew Hawtin’s (Toms River, N.J.) service into the Rutgers net in the 72^nd minute. It was Rowley’s second score of the season and the 10th of his career. Hawtin was credited with his second assist of the campaign.

The Orange continued to press on offense forcing Scarlet Knights’ keeper Matt VanOekel to make all four of his saves in the second half, but Labrocca’s goal at 76:06 ended any chance of an SU rally.

Cavicchia finished the match with a game-high six saves for the Orange.

Sophomore Kyle Hall (Toronto, Ontario) paced the SU attack with four shot attempts, including two good scoring chances in the first half, but he could not convert on either of them. In the eighth minute, VanOekel bobbled a ball in the box. It was corralled by Hall, but his shot at the open net sailed over the crossbar. In the 30^th minute, he broke through the Rutgers back line after receiving a pass from freshman Hansen Woodruff (Stuart, Fla.), but his shot went just wide.

The Scarlet Knights held a 12-1 advantage in corner kicks and out-shot the Orange for the match, 20-15.

It was Rutgers’ second straight win against SU.

The Orange will conclude its 2006 campaign with a home match on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 7:00 p.m. against DePaul.