SU Hosts UMass Wednesday

Massachusetts (0-7-1) at Syracuse (5-2-0)
Game Details	Wednesday, Sept. 25 \| Syracuse, N.Y. \| 7 p.m. SU Soccer Stadium \| Weather
Game Coverage	SUAthletics.com: Live Stats Twitter: @CuseMensSoccer
Syracuse Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule \| Stats \| Notes
\|Massachusetts Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule \| Stats

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – After earning its inaugural ACC victory last week, the Syracuse men's soccer team (5-2-0) returns to the SU Soccer Stadium to face Massachusetts (0-7-1) on Wednesday, Sept. 25. The Orange and Minutemen kick off at 7 p.m. and admission is free.

LAST TIME OUT
Syracuse captured its first three points in the ACC standings with a 2-1 come-from-behind victory at Duke on Friday, Sept. 20. After the Blue Devils registered the game's first goal less than 15 seconds into the second half, freshman Emil Ekblom tallied the equalizer. Classmate Chris Nanco followed with the game-winner in the 78th minute on a perfect through-ball from Grant Chong.

Orange goalkeeper Alex Bono, who was recently named the Disney Soccer/NSCAA Men's Division I Player of the Week, recorded four saves to register his 18th career win.

YOUTHFUL EXUBERANCE
The Syracuse freshman class has been especially productive through the first seven games. Orange newcomers have accounted for 10 of the team's14 goals as well as four assists. Alex Halis leads the Orange with four tallies, whileEmil Ekblom and Chris Nanco are tied for second with three goals apiece.

Ekblom shares the team lead with two assists. Halis and Oyvind Alseth both have contributed one helper.

SCOUTING THE MINUTEMEN
Massachusetts has a 0-7-1 record this season, including a 0-4-0 mark on the road. The Minutemen earned a draw against Evansville in its season-opener, but has lost seven straight.

Josh Schwartz leads UMass with two goals on the season. Mark Morris also has a tally. Peter Alvarenga is the only Minuteman credited with an assist so far this year. Minutemen goalie Nick Ruiz has 47 saves in eight games with a goals-against average of 1.49.

Sam Koch is in his 23rd season as head coach at Massachusetts. Under his guidance, the Minutemen have won four regular-season Atlantic 10 titles, made three NCAA Tournament appearances and reached the national semifinals in 2007. Previously, Koch was the head coach at Stanford from 1984-89.

SERIES HISTORY
The Orange defeated UMass last season, 2-0, in the only previous encounter between the two teams. Defenders Jordan Murrell and Skylar Thomas had one goal apiece in the victory. The pair also anchored an Orange defense that held the Minutemen to zero shots on goal.

UP NEXT…
The Orange returns to conference play when it hosts Virginia on Saturday, Sept. 28 at the SU Soccer Stadium. SU and the Cavaliers kick off at 7 p.m.

Syracuse University Athletics

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