Villanova Edges Syracuse, 1-0

Wednesday, October 26

SU Soccer Stadium

7 p.m.

Syracuse University

Villanova

Senior Phil Boerger made eight stops on the night.

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

10/26/2011 11:09:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Score By Period	1st	2nd	OT	2OT	Final
Villanova	0	0	0	1	1
Syracuse	0	0	0	0	0
Box Score \| Postgame Interviews/Highlights \| Photos Oct. 26, 2011 \| SU Soccer Stadium / Syracuse, N.Y. \| Attendance: 281

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Villanova (6-7-4, 3-4-1) scored with 44 seconds remaining in the second overtime to hand Syracuse (3-11-1, 1-6-1) a 1-0 loss on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at the SU Soccer Stadium. Senior Matt Margiotta scored the game-winner for the Wildcats.

In the first 45 minutes of play, neither team registered a goal, but both sides had their offensive chances.

Junior Louis Clark nearly gave the Orange the lead in the 17th minute. After breaking free from the Villanova defense, Clark attempted to chip the ball over Wildcats senior keeper John Fogarty, but didn't get it up high enough. Villanova had three shots on goal in the first stanza, but each was turned away by Orange senior goalkeeper Phil Boerger.

In the first 30 minutes of the second half, Boerger made three saves to keep the score 0-0.

The momentum shifted to Syracuse late in regulation. In the 77th minute, Syracuse nearly took the lead again. Junior Lars Muller emerged from a scrum in front of the goal with the ball. His shot at an open net was stopped by a Wildcats defender. One minute later, senior Nick Roydhouse had a fantastic look at the goal. Fogarty made the save and denied Roydhouse again on the rebound.

After a scoreless first overtime, the second extra stanza began with a Villanova strike on goal, but Boerger continued his strong play, making his eighth and final save of the night.

Junior Ted Cribley generated SU's best chance in the second overtime with a spectacular run in the 107th minute. Weaving through defenders, Cribley approached the Villanova goal, but his shot was smothered by Fogarty for his sixth and final stop of the match.

In the final minute, SU earned a corner kick and sent everyone forward in an attempt to secure the winning goal. Off the serve, the ball caromed out to the Wildcats who rushed upfield with numbers. Sophomore Dylan Renna played a through ball to Margiotta in front of the SU goal. Cribley attempted to make a diving tackle, but Margiotta dodged his attempt and buried the game-winner at 109:16.

Margiotta's tally brought to an end an evenly played game. Both teams recorded 20 shots and Villanova held the corner kick advantage by one, 7-6.

The Orange plays its final match of the regular season on Saturday, Oct. 29 when it travels to DePaul for a 2 p.m. contest at Wish Field. A BIG EAST Tournament berth is on the line with the winner clinching a spot in the league championship.

Match Notes: With eight saves on the night, Boerger now has 177 career stops ... Syracuse played its third double-overtime game of the year.