SU Hosts Albany Tuesday

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The No. 9 Syracuse Orange (9-1-0) welcomes Albany (3-3-5) to the SU Soccer Stadium on Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. The Orange is riding a five game-winning streak, most recently defeating Virginia Tech on the road in double overtime. Admission to the match is free and the game will be televised locally on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel. It's also available nationally on ESPN3.

"KICK AWAY CANCER"
The Syracuse University Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) and Orange men's soccer team are encouraging fans to "Kick Away Cancer." Fans are invited to wear pink to the Albany match to show their support for the fight against breast cancer. SAAC is holding a silent auction during the game to benefit the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Awareness Research Fund. Prizes include four tickets to an SU football game of the winner's choice (not including Florida State) and a signed Syracuse men's soccer jersey.

SIZZLING START
With nine wins in its first 10 games, the 2014 squad has equaled the 1984 Orange for the best start to a season in program history. No Syracuse team has ever won 10 of its first 11 matches. The 1982 and 1984 Orange both went 9-1-1 in its first 11 contests.

DOMINATING DEFENSE
Syracuse has allowed the fewest goals in the nation (1) and owns the country's top goals-against average at 0.10. In addition, SU's .976 save percentage and .900 shutout percentage are tops in the NCAA. Goalie Alex Bono leads the NCAA in goals-against average (0.10) and save percentage (.976).

The Orange's nine shutouts are tied for sixth on the school single-season record list and the team has shut out its last five opponents, one short of the school record of six straight clean sheets set during the 1980 season.

LAST TIME OUT
Syracuse defeated ACC rival Virginia Tech 1-0 in a double-overtime thriller on Saturday, Oct. 4. Emil Ekblom scored his fifth gam- winning goal of the season in the 107th minute, heading a cross from Oyvind Alseth. Alex Bono had six saves on his way to his ACC-leading ninth shutout of the season. Bono ranks second in the ACC with 40 saves this season.

NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS
Syracuse is 20-2-0 the past three years against non-conference opponents during the regular season, including a 6-0-0 record in 2014. SU has outscored its non-league foes by the count of 53-7 and recorded 18 shutouts in that stretch. Overall, the Orange has won 17 straight against non-conference opponents, including its 2012 NCAA Tournament victories at Cornell and VCU. SU is assured of finishing the 2014 season with a winning non-conference record, the seventh time in 10 years, and the 11th time in 15 seasons, the Orange has been at least .500 in non-conference play.

SCOUTING THE GREAT DANES
The Great Danes have a very well-balanced attack. Eight different players have scored goals, led by Afonso Pinheiro who has three goals and one assist for a team-leading seven points. Jake Barros and Leo Melgar are second on the club with two goals each.

Tim Allen has played all 11 matches in the goal for Albany. He has 46 saves and a 0.81 goals-against average with three shutouts.

Head coach Trevor Gorman owns a career coaching record of 21-35-13. The Great Danes have reached the America East Conference Tournament in each of Gorman's first three seasons. Last season, Albany earned 10 points and was 3-3-1 in conference play, the program's best league record since joining the America East.

THE ALBANY SERIES
The Orange leads the series with Albany 5-1-1 and is 3-0-1 versus the Great Danes in the last four matches.

The first meeting between the two teams was in 1953 with Syracuse winning, 6-1. The two teams did not play again until 2003.

The Orange has outscored Albany in the series, 14-3, including a 2-0 road win last year.

UP NEXT ...
Syracuse welcomes Wake Forest to the SU Soccer Stadium for a critical ACC Atlantic Division match Friday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

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Players Mentioned

Oyvind Alseth

Alex Bono

Emil Ekblom

Syracuse University Athletics