Last Second Goal Lifts Providence to 3-2 Win

Thursday, September 14

SU Soccer Stadium

7:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

Providence

Kyle Hall had a goal and an assist for Syracuse against Providence.

9/14/2006 10:59:34 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Providence (5-1-0, 3-0-0) scored with four seconds left in regulation to earn a 3-2 win against Syracuse (3-3-0, 0-3-0) on Thursday, Sept. 14 at the SU Soccer Stadium. The Friars’ Kevin Neumen scored the golden goal when he flicked the ball into the Orange net off a free kick by Providence goalie Chris Konopka at 89:57.

The play was set up after a foul by the Orange in its attacking end of the field resulted in the free-kick opportunity. Konopka elected to take the kick and sent the other 10 Friars toward the SU net. Providence’s Timothy Ritter got a piece of ball as it was coming down and Neumen headed it by SU keeper Robert Cavicchia (North York, Ontario) for the game-winner.

It was the third straight one-goal loss for the Orange and the fourth consecutive victory for Providence.

Down 2-1 with less than two minutes to play, the Orange rallied to tie score when freshman Hansen Woodruff (Stuart, Fla.) headed the ball into the Providence net to equalize the match at 88:14. The scoring play was started by Cavicchia, who served the ball from the SU end of the field. Sophomore Pete Rowley (Reading, Pa.) won the ball in the air, sending it into the box. Hall got a touch on it and Woodruff leaned to get his head on the ball and sent it into the Friars’ net with 1:46 to go.

The match appeared headed for overtime until a foul by the Orange with nine seconds remaining resulted in the Friars’ game-winning play.

Woodruff tied his career high with three points in the contest. In addition to the goal, he also assisted on sophomore Kyle Hall’s (Toronto, Ontario) team-leading fifth tally, which gave the Orange a 1-0 margin 10:53 into the game. Senior Andrew Hawtin (Toms River, N.J.) also assisted on the play to record his first point of the year.

The Friars answered SU’s score in the 33^rd minute. Ryan Maduro took the ball into the corner and crossed a pass that Hadrien Toure touched to Joseph Weill just inside the 18. Weill turned a fired a shot into the left side of the goal to tie the match.

Jonathan Medcalf gave the Friars the lead when he found the back of the net at 69:05. Maduro and Ritter got touches in the box before Medcalf one-timed the ball past Cavicchia for the go-ahead goal.

SU pushed forward in an effort to tie the match and nearly did so in the 87^th minute when Konopka made a diving save on a chance by freshman Luis Martienez (Morristown, N.J./Morristown). The rebound caromed to Rowley whose shot was stopped by a Friars defender. Woodruff’s game-tying tally came less than a minute later.

Maduro and Ritter each finished with two assists for the Friars. Konopka made four saves for Providence, all in the second half, to pick up the win.

Cavicchia stopped four shots for the Orange in goal and Woodruff and freshman Pete Hill (Pittsford, N.Y.) each made their first career starts in the match.

Syracuse will host BIG EAST foe Connecticut on Sunday, Sept. 17 at the SU Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is at 3:00 p.m. and admission for the match is free.