.png)
Syracuse University
Providence
Orange Faces BIG EAST Road Tests
9/24/2009 10:58:56 AM | Men's Soccer
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Orange (1-6-0, 0-2-0) takes to the road this weekend for its second set of BIG EAST cross-over matches. Syracuse will visit Providence (3-3-0, 0-2-0) on Friday, Sept. 25 for a 3 p.m. game at Glay Field before continuing on to Connecticut (2-2-2, 1-1-0) for a match against the Huskies on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. at Morrone Stadium.
Live stats are available for both matches. Fans can access live stats for the Providence match by clicking here and live stats for the Connecticut match can be accessed by clicking here. Live audio for the Connecticut match is also available via WHUS, the school's student radio station.
This weekend's games are the first two matches of a three-game road trip for the Orange that also includes an Oct. 2 tilt at BIG EAST Red Division rival Rutgers.
TEAM ON PACE TO SET SOCCER STADIUM AVERAGE HOME ATTENDANCE RECORD
Attendance for all three of the Syracuse's home matches this season has been over 1,000 and the squad is on pace to break SU Soccer Stadium home average attendance record 812 set last season. Syracuse is averaging 1,286 fans for home matches this year, including two of the top three crowds in the history of the facility (1,418 for Cornell on Sept. 5 and 1,311 for Seton Hall on Sept. 18). Syracuse's average home attendance has increased every season dating back to 2004.
PEREVEGYENCEV REACHES 30 CAREER POINTS
Senior forward Tom Perevegyencev scored the 13th goal of his career against Seton Hall on Sept. 18. The tally increased his career point total to 30 in 41 career games. The score also tied him with classmate Hansen Woodruff for the squad lead in points (7) and goals (3). Perevegyencev ranks eighth in school history in goals scored per contest (.317).
THEY KNOW THEIR OPPONENT WELL
A pair of coaches this weekend will be facing their former teams when Syracuse and Connecticut meet Sunday at Morrone Stadium. Former Syracuse standout Kevin Bacher is in his eighth season working as an assistant on Ray Reid's coaching staff at Connecticut. Bacher, a goalie for the Orange from 1997-2000, mentors the Huskies' goalkeepers and serves as the program's recruiting coordinator. He still ranks fifth on SU's career saves list (243) and is also fifth on the Orange's career wins chart (24). He was a second-team All-BIG EAST selection in 2000 and earned first-team NSCAA All-Region accolades that same season.
First-year Orange assistant coach Kris Bertsch came to Syracuse in 2009 after working for four seasons as the director of soccer operations at Connecticut. The Huskies posted a 57-18-11 record, won two BIG EAST Tournament titles and earned four NCAA Tournament berths during Bertsch's tenure on the Connecticut staff.
SCOUTING PROVIDENCE
Like Syracuse, Providence is seeking its first conference win of the season. The Friars carry a 3-3-0 record into Friday afternoon's contest, including a 2-0-0 mark in games played at Glay Field. In league play, they are 0-2-0 after losses to Rutgers and Villanova last weekend, and Providence has lost three of its last four games overall dating back to a Sept. 7 loss to No. 14 Boston University (3-0).
The Friars have scored four goals in their first six outings, including three by Preseason All-BIG EAST selection Timothy Ritter. All three of Ritter's goals have been game-winners and he leads the league in that category. Sophomore Nick Cianci has the Friars' other goal. Goalie Timothy Murray has played every minute between the posts. He owns a 0.94 goals-against average with three shutouts.
SYRACUSE-PROVIDENCE SERIES
SU holds a 15-10-0 advantage in the all-time series, which began with a clash in the 1983 BIG EAST Tournament. The Orange won that match, 4-3. Syracuse holds the longest winning streak in the series, posting seven consecutive victories against the Friars from 1991-97. The Orange notched six straight shutouts during that stretch, including four 1-nil wins. In last season's pairing, Syracuse dominated the Friars en route to a 3-0 victory at the SU Soccer Stadium.
SCOUTING CONNECTICUT
Connecticut enters this weeknd 2-2-2 overall and 1-1-0 in the BIG EAST. The Huskies split its opening two conference games last weekend, beating Villanova, 2-1, on Sept. 18 before losing to Rutgers on Sept. 20 by that same score. The Huskies will host No. 15 St. John's Friday night before playing the Orange on Sunday afternoon.
Junior Alan Ponce is the only player on the squad with multiple goals and he leads the club in overall points with five (2g, 1a). Mike Pezza and Tony Cascio are tied for the team lead with two assists each. Junior goalie Josh Ford has 20 saves and three shutouts on the year. Ford, a native of Liverpool, N.Y., ranks eighth in the BIG EAST with a 0.93 goals-against average.
Head coach Ray Reid entered this season as the NCAA's active leader in winning percentage (.773). Reid is in his 21st season as a college head coach and he currently holds an overall record of 325-83-41 (.769). He guided the Huskies to the NCAA title in 2000 and has won four BIG EAST Championships in his tenure, including the 2007 conference crown.
SYRACUSE-CONNECTICUT SERIES
The Huskies hold an 21-10-3 advantage in the all-time series which began in 1982. The two clubs have met at least once every season since the series began. In 2000, Syracuse posted one of the most memorable victories in school history when it defeated the Huskies in Storrs, 1-0, when Connecticut was ranked No. 1 in the national polls.
