'Cuse Clinches Share of Atlantic Division Title

Friday, October 31

SU Soccer Stadium

7 p.m.

Syracuse University

14-2-1, 5-2-1ACC

Boston College

5-8-3, 1-6-1ACC

OT 1

OT 2

Boston College

Syracuse

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

10/31/2014 10:52:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Orange beats Boston College in double overtime, 2-1

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Skylar Thomas made his final regular-season game at the SU Soccer Stadium a memorable one.

The 6-3 back, who was recognized before the match as part of Senior Night, scored the winning goal in the 103rd minute to lift No. 3 Syracuse (14-2-1, 5-2-1 ACC) to a 2-1 double-overtime victory against Boston College (5-8-3, 1-6-1 ACC) in front of 1,672 fans on Friday, Oct. 31.

The goal was Thomas' second game-winner of the season and the victory assured the Orange of a share of the ACC Atlantic Division title.

"I am very proud of the way our guys kept grinding," Orange head coach Ian McIntyre said after the game. "There were a lot of tired legs out there. It was a heavy pitch tonight and both teams laid it out there. Thankfully, we came out with a win and a valuable three points."

Syracuse controlled the flow of the match from the opening whistle, but Boston College was the first to score. Diego Medina-Mendez sent a hard cross into the box that bounced its way through traffic and past goalkeeper Alex Bono to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.

Playing from behind for only the second time this season, the Orange answered back in the 29th minute. Oyvind Alseth brought a defender to his knees with some fancy footwork, carrying the ball into the box before being taken down. Syracuse was awarded a penalty kick that Nick Perea converted at the 28:09 mark to equalize the match.

In the second half, Syracuse continued to dominate the pace of play. The Orange outshot the Eagles, 7-2, and recorded six corner kicks in the frame, but could not capitalize on its advantage. Boston College goalie Alex Kapp recorded four second-half saves to help preserve the stalemate and the match proceeded to overtime.

Much like in regulation, the Orange kept the Eagles on the defensive in the first extra session. The Orange recorded four shots in the period, including a try by Alex Halis in the 93rd minute that ricocheted off the post.

Finally in the second overtime, Syracuse broke through. Less than three minutes into the frame, Halis tracked down a loose ball in the box after a free kick and fired a shot that Kapp turned away. The rebound made its way to Thomas, who buried the ball into the open net with 7:21 left to secure the victory.

Bono finished with three saves for the Orange and moved into sole possession of second place on Syracuse's all-time wins list with his 37th victory. Kapp tallied six saves for the Eagles.

The Orange outshot Boston College, 18-6. Syracuse also held a 14-3 advantage in corner kicks.

The conference will announce the seeds and matchups for the upcoming 2014 ACC Men's Soccer Championship after the conclusion of regular-season play on Saturday.

Match Notes: Following the early miscue, the Syracuse defense regrouped and allowed just three shots on goal in the last 92 minutes ... The win was the 150th of McIntyre's career. He is 150-101-41 (.584) as a college head coach ... The 18-6 shot differential was the team's greatest since Oct. 7 when it outshot Albany, 17-4 … Perea is 3-for-3 on penalty kicks and has four goals this season ... The victory snapped Boston College's six-game series winning streak and was the Orange's first against the Eagles since 1999.