Boselli Leads #1 Orange to Season-Opening Win

Thursday, August 24

7 PM

Syracuse University

1-0-0, 0-0-0

Providence

0-1-0, 0-0-0

Providence

Syracuse

8/24/2023 10:10:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Senior Lorenzo Boselli opened the 2023 season in style, netting a pair of goals in the opening 13 minutes of the match as the defending national champion Syracuse men's soccer team, presented by Industry Standard USA, defeated Providence, 2-0, Thursday evening.

Junior Giona Leibold found Boselli in the middle of the box in the 6th minute of play to give the Orange an early advantage. Boselli extended the lead on a set piece.

Syracuse's backline held strong throughout the contest, keeping the Providence attack to just four shot attempts and a pair of shots on goal. The Orange's offense had strong momentum for all 90 minutes of play, putting eight of their 13 shots on target.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
#1 Syracuse opened the scoring at the 5:39 mark of the first half after Leibold received a cross pass from senior Nate Edwards into the box. Leibold was able to corral the ball, dribbling around the Providence defender and sent it into the center for a waiting Boselli, who headed the ball past Friars' keeper, Lukas Burns.

LORENZO BOSELLI EVERYONE!

📺: https://t.co/djETmTFJ3V pic.twitter.com/HRCurXKg8u
— Syracuse Men's Soccer (@CuseMSOC) August 24, 2023

Less than seven minutes later, Boselli's header doubled Syracuse's score following the home team's corner kick. Senior Mateo Leveque sent the ball into the box where Boselli headed the ball off the shoulder of a Providence defender into the back of the net.

'Cuse's backline kept Providence's attack at bay throughout the evening, holding the visitors to four shots. Junior keeper Jason Smith made two saves in his first victory with Syracuse, earning his eighth career clean sheet.

OF NOTE:

The two goals were Boselli's career-best in a Syracuse uniform.
Syracuse extends its unbeaten streak to 15 games dating back to last season.
The Orange are now 10-3 all time against Providence at home, with all 10 victories coming via the clean sheet.
Syracuse is now 10-4 in season openers during head coach Ian McIntyre's tenure.
Prior to the match, the team unveiled its 2022 ACC Championship and NCAA Championship banners.

UP NEXT:
Syracuse returns to the pitch on Monday, August 28 when the team hosts Binghamton at the SU Soccer Stadium. Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m. with the contest airing live on ACC Network.

For complete coverage of Syracuse men's soccer, follow us on Facebook (/cusemsoc), Twitter (@CuseMSOC) and Instagram (@cusemsoc).