SU Travels to St. John's in Regular Season Finale

Syracuse (12-4-0, 5-2-0 BIG EAST) at #18 St. John's (9-3-4, 3-3-1 BIG EAST)
Game Details	Friday, Oct. 26 \| Queens, N.Y. \| 7:30 p.m. Belson Soccer Stadium \| Weather
Game Coverage	TV: ESPN3 \| Radio: None RedStormSports.com: Live Stats Twitter: @Cuse
Syracuse Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule \| Stats \| Notes
St. John's Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule \| Stats

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – After clinching its first BIG EAST Tournament berth since 2005 last week, the SU men's soccer team (12-4-0, 5-2-0 BIG EAST) concludes its winningest regular season since 1988 when it travels to No. 18 St. John's (9-3-4, 3-3-1 BIG EAST) for a 7:30 p.m. game on Friday, Oct. 26 at Belson Stadium. Fans can watch the match live on ESPN3.

A victory against the Red Storm would give the Orange 13 victories, the most wins in a season since 1986 when SU won 16 matches.

BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP IMPLICATIONS
With a win against the Red Storm and a Louisville loss at Cincinnati, the Orange can clinch a share of the BIG EAST Red Division title for the first time. Syracuse is locked into the second seed in the Red Division and will host the Blue Division's No. 3 seed in the quarterfinals of the BIG EAST Championship on Nov. 3.

ORANGE TURNAROUND
After going 3-12-1 in 2011, Syracuse is 12-4-0 this season, good for a win-loss improvement of +8.5. The team's previous best win-loss improvement was achieved in 1982 (+5.5). The Orange was 10-7-1 in 1981 and improved to 17-3-2 the following year.

DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE
Syracuse has shut out 11 of its first 16 opponents and has allowed just nine goals this season. SU's 11 shutouts are tied for second most in team history and are the most clean sheets for the program since 1986.

The Orange leads the BIG EAST in shutouts and ranks third nationally in shutout percentage (.690), save percentage, and lists seventh in the NCAA in team goals-against average (0.56). Goalie Alex Bono is tied for first in the league in shutouts (nine) and save percentage (.850). He is second behind UConn's Andre Blake in goals-against average (0.61).

Additionally, the Orange has not allowed a goal in the last 290:09, a stretch that includes consecutive shutouts of USF, Villanova and DePaul. The last goal surrendered by Syracuse came at the 69:51 mark against Louisville on Oct. 6.

Prior to 2012, the last time the Orange blanked three consecutive conference opponents was in 1985 (the first year of BIG EAST regular-season competition). That season, Syracuse shut out Providence, St. John's and Boston College in succession.

SCOUTING ST. JOHN'S
The Red Storm has a 9-3-4 overall record, including a 3-3-1 record in the BIG EAST. St. John's is ranked No. 18 in the latest NSCAA/Continental Tire Top 25 poll.

Jack Bennett leads the Red Storm offensively. He has 14 points on a team-leading five goals and team best four assists. Andres Vargas, Nick Matthews and Jelani Williams have four goals apiece. Rafael Diaz has started all 16 games in goal for St. John's. He has a 0.71 goals-against average with seven shutouts.

Dave Masur is in his 24th season as head coach at St. John's. Masur owns an .720 winning percentage with the Red Storm and he's led the program to the 1996 national championship, four NCAA College Cups and 17 NCAA Tournament berths. Under Masur's tutelage, St. John's has also won a conference-record eight BIG EAST Tournament titles.

THE ST. JOHN'S SERIES
Wednesday's match marks the 32nd meeting between Syracuse and St. John's. The Red Storm leads the overall series, 18-7-6. The Orange is seeking its first victory in the series since 1996.

RECAPPING THE DEPAUL GAME
Redshirt freshman Tyler Hilliard scored his first career goal, and Jordan Vale scored his team-leading eighth tally of the season to lead the Orange past DePaul, 2-0, on Saturday, Oct. 20 at the SU Soccer Stadium. With the victory, the SU secured its first BIG EAST Tournament berth since 2005.

UP NEXT…
Syracuse will host its first postseason match in program history when it faces the No. 3 seed in the BIG EAST's Blue Division in the quarterfinal round of the conference tournament Saturday, Nov. 3.

Syracuse University Athletics

SU Travels to St. John's in Regular Season Finale

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