Orange And Huskies Go Down To The Wire; #2/5 Connecticut Prevails, 1-0

Sunday, September 28

SU Soccer Stadium

3 p.m.

Syracuse University

#5 Connecticut

Robert Cavicchia made six saves Sunday against Connecticut.

Orange And Huskies Go Down To The Wire; #2/5 Connecticut Prevails, 1-0

9/28/2008 7:12:45 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Orange men’s soccer team matched one of the top squads in the nation shot-for-shot for 100 minutes, but #2/5 Connecticut eventually prevailed, 1-0, in double overtime on Sunday, Sept. 28 at the SU Soccer Stadium. Syracuse is now 5-2-2 on the year and 2-2-0 in the BIG EAST. The Huskies improved to 5-1-3 overall and 3-1-0 in the conference.

Reigning Hermann Trophy winner O’Brian White tallied the golden goal for Connecticut, heading a serve by Akeem Priestley into the net 23 seconds into the second extra session.

A crowd of 1,114 took in Sunday’s game, the third-largest gathering for a men’s match in the history of the SU Soccer Stadium, and the second home crowd of more than a 1,000 fans to watch the Orange this year.

Both teams generated offensive chances, but Syracuse outplayed the Huskies for the majority of the match and was the more dangerous team in the second half. The Orange recorded 19 shots to 12 for the Huskies and outshot the visitors, 7-4, in the second period.

Senior goalie Robert Cavicchia (North York, Ontario) and Huskies keeper Josh Ford, a Liverpool, N.Y. native, were terrific in goal. Each keeper tallied six saves in the contest, including crucial stops that kept the match scoreless throughout regulation and into the second overtime.

Cavicchia made a brilliant save on White in the 10th minute, diving to tip his shot over the crossbar on the Huskies best offensive chance of the opening period. Ford answered late in the first half deflecting a re-directed cross by senior Isaac Collings (Oriskany, N.Y.) over the net.

Their solid play continued in the second half as Ford made three stops and Cavicchia two to force overtime.

Cavicchia came up big for the Orange again in OT, knocking a Connecticut header aside off a corner kick in the 96th minute. His save set the stage for the Orange’s best chance to win the match, but senior Karol Wasielewski’s (Gdynia, Poland) header off a corner kick hit the outside of the post and deflected away at the 98:41 mark.

White ended the contest less than two minutes later on the first shot of the second overtime.

“It was good college soccer game,” SU head coach Dean Foti said. “We wanted to win the game. We didn’t end up with the result we wanted, but it was as close to a complete game as we’ve played all year. I was pleased with the mental attitude. This team is seasoned and they’ve been around the block. We’re going to take what we can (from this game) and move forward.”

Senior Kyle Hall (Toronto, Ontario) led SU with six shots and put two on goal. White also had six shot attempts for the Huskies.

Syracuse begins divisional play later this week. The Orange will travel to Tampa, Fla. to face Red Division leader USF on Friday, Oct. 3. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Match Notes: The defeat was Syracuse’s first loss at home this season … The Orange is now 2-1-2 at the SU Soccer Stadium this year … Sunday’s attendance marked the ninth time a crowd of more than 1,000 spectators took in a match at the Soccer Stadium since it opened in 1996 … Connecticut was the third top 25 team the Orange faced in seven days starting with third-ranked Notre Dame on Sept. 21.