Orange Scores Season-Opening Win Versus Niagara

Friday, August 29

SU Soccer Stadium

2 p.m.

Syracuse University

1-0-0

Niagara

0-1-0

Niagara

Syracuse

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

8/29/2014 8:40:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Defense allows just three shots against the Purple Eagles

Score By Period	1st	2nd	Final
Niagara	0	0	0
Syracuse	1	2	3
Box Score \| Highlights \| Photos Aug. 29, 2014 \| SU Soccer Stadium / Syracuse, N.Y. \| Attendance: 1,217

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Orange (1-0-0) opened the 2014 regular-season campaign with a 3-0 victory against the Niagara Purple Eagles (0-1-0) on Friday, Aug. 29 at the SU Soccer Stadium in the first game of the inaugural Central New York Classic.

Louis Cross and Chris Nanco both tallied goals in the match, and an Orange corner kick deflected off a Niagara player and into the net to give Syracuse its third consecutive season-opening victory.

"It was a solid start to the season," Orange head coach Ian McIntyre said. "We got the shutout, but I'm sure the guys will tell you we probably weren't firing on all cylinders today. It's tough for me as a coach to grumble when we win 3-0 though."

Syracuse dominated the match, outshooting the Purple Eagles, 19-3, including a 13-2 margin in the second half.

Cross, a sophomore transfer from the University of Akron, tallied his first career goal in the 22nd minute to open the scoring. Cross headed a long serve from senior Jordan Murrell past Niagara keeper Joel Gerberich and into the left side of the net to put SU ahead, 1-0.

Freshman Julian Buescher had a quality opportunity to extend the lead approximately six minutes later, but his free kick deflected off the post and the score remained 1-nil.

Early in the second half, Nanco carried the ball down the left wing and punched a hard shot between Gerberich's legs for a 2-0 Orange margin.

Already comfortably in front, Syracuse continued to send numbers forward and generated multiple quality scoring opportunities. The hosts were rewarded in the 83rd minute when sophomore Oyvind Alseth put a dangerous serve into the box on a corner kick. The ball caromed off Niagara's Brennan Koslow and into the bottom left corner of the goal for Syracuse's third and final tally.

In addition to the offensive production, the Orange back line was stout from the opening whistle. The unit of Cross, Murrell and Tyler Hilliard did not allow a shot on goal. Junior goalie Alex Bono was not forced to make a save and earned his 19th clean sheet to move into sole possession of third place on SU's career shutout list.

No Purple Eagle recorded more than one shot in the match. Gerberich finished with four saves in goal.

Syracuse takes on St. Mary's (Calif.) in its final game of the Central New York Classic on Sunday, Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. at the SU Soccer Stadium.

Match Notes: Murrell's assist was his 14th career helper. He is now in sole possession 10th place on SU's all-time assists chart, breaking a tie with Ed Pinon (1989-90) … Liam Callahan, Noah Rhynhart, Korab Syla, Cross and Buescher all made their first starts in a Syracuse uniform … The Orange has won 12 of the last 13 meetings with Niagara and improved to 16-4-0 all-time against the Purple Eagles.