2012 Season Review
After posting a 3-12-1 record in 2011, the Orange was predicted to finish last in the BIG EAST's Red Division in the preseason. However, the team defied the pundits by becoming the most improved team in the nation (+8.5 win-loss improvement). The Orange went 14-6-1, including a 5-3-0 mark in BIG EAST play.
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Other season milestones included a final ranking of 17th in the NSCAA/Continental Tire Poll, the team's second NCAA berth, the program's first two NCAA Tournament victories, and an appearance in the BIG EAST Championship for the first time since 2005.
The Orange opened the 2012 season against Albany at the SU Soccer Stadium. Junior Tony Asante scored the first goal of his SU career and the Orange benefited from a Great Danes own goal to capture a 2-0 victory. Rookie goalkeeper Alex Bono recorded a clean sheet in his first collegiate match, making two saves in the contest.
Syracuse improved to 2-0 for the first time since 2006 when it traveled to Binghamton on Aug. 31 for its road opener and defeated the Bearcats, 1-0. Freshman Jordan Vale scored his first collegiate goal in the 59th minute to provide the winning margin.
Three days later, the Orange returned home to face Niagara. Asante recorded another goal in the second half, but the Purple Eagles scored once in each period to down the Orange, 2-1.
Syracuse returned to its winning ways in historic fashion by dominating Colgate, 6-0, on Sept. 3. The six goals were an SU Soccer Stadium record and the most for the Orange in one game since 1994. Lars Muller, Ted Cribley, Ben Ramin, Asante and Vale scored goals in the rout, which gave the Orange its third win in four matches.
The team continued its non-conference schedule that weekend in Oneonta, N.Y. at Mayor's Cup XXXVI. SU recorded its second straight win by trouncing NJIT, 4-0, to open the tournament. Two days later, SU won the Mayor’s Cup title for the second time since 2008 by beating St. Bonaventure, 5-0.
With a 5-1-0 record in tow, the Orange headed west for the UNLV Nike Invitational in Las Vegas the following weekend. SU recorded its first win in the Pacific time zone when Stefanos Stamoulacatos scored to lift the Orange to a 1-0 victory against UNLV on Sept. 14. Against Cal State Fullerton on Sept. 16, the Orange dropped a 3-1 decision to fall to 6-2-0 on the year.
Syracuse returned to home to open BIG EAST play against Seton Hall on Sept. 22. Vale once again was the difference. He scored the game's only goal to give the Orange its first win in a BIG EAST opener since 2008.
After wrapping up non-conference play with a 2-0 victory at Massachusetts on Sept. 25, SU lost a 1-0 decision at Cincinnati on Sept. 29.
The Orange rebounded well after the Cincinnati loss, recording an important result at home against Rutgers on Oct. 3. After a Vale goal put the Orange ahead in the first half, the Scarlet Knights equalized late in regulation to force overtime. Two minutes into the overtime session, Muller scored the winner off a well-placed serve by Jordan Murrell. The 2-1 victory made the Orange 9-3-0 overall and 2-1-0 in the conference.
A 2-1 home loss to Louisville followed, but the Orange bounced back with three straight shutouts against conference opponents to earn a trip to the postseason. Syracuse beat USF (1-0) and Villanova (2-0) on the road and blanked DePaul, 2-0, on Oct. 20 in its regular-season home finale. The stretch marked the first time since 1985 Syracuse shut out three BIG EAST foes in a row, and the back-to-back road wins against conference opponents USF and Villanova was a first for the team since 2001.
Brandon Savino of St. John's ended the shutout streak at 368 minutes and 7 seconds when he scored in the second half of the regular-season finale between the Orange and Red Storm on Oct. 26. Savino's goal and some timely saves by Rafael Diaz helped the Red Storm to a 1-0 win over the Orange at Belson Stadium.
With a 5-3-0 conference mark, the Orange earned the Red Division's No. 2 seed in the BIG EAST Championship and a first-round bye.
The Orange hosted Notre Dame in the first postseason match in the history of the SU Soccer Stadium on Nov. 3. In front of a record crowd of 1,675 supporters, Syracuse pulled in front 2-0 on goals by Cribley and Louis Clark. The Orange couldn't maintain the lead, though, as the Irish offense came to life late in the match. Notre Dame scored four times in the final 30 minutes to eliminate the Orange, 4-2.
Syracuse had done enough though. When the 48-team NCAA Championship bracket was revealed on Nov. 12, the Orange was rewarded with an at-large bid into the field. It was the first NCAA Tournament invitation for the program since 1984 and the second in school history.
The Orange made the short drive to Ithaca, N.Y. on Nov. 15 for a date with Ivy League champion Cornell in the first round. Muller found the back of the net early and the Syracuse defense handled the rest, continually turning away Big Red opportunities, to record the first NCAA Tournament win in team history, 1-0.
The Cornell victory set up an NCAA second-round match at VCU on Nov. 18. The 19th-ranked Rams tallied the match's first two goals, but Clark and Stamoulacatos each scored once to even the game at halftime. The match remained deadlocked until the 108th minute when Clark scored again. His golden goal propelled SU to the third round with a thrilling 3-2 victory.
A familiar foe awaited the Orange in the Sweet 16 as BIG EAST rival and No. 3 seed Georgetown was also in the midst of a spectacular season. The Hoyas entered the game with an 18-3-2 record, but SU looked to be in control after Vale's header found the back of the cage in the 29th minute. The Syracuse defense turned away a flurry of Georgetown chances in the second half until BIG EAST Rookie of the Year Brandon Allen tied the match in the 85th minute, forcing overtime. After a pair of scoreless extra sessions, the two teams dueled in a penalty-kick shootout with the Hoyas prevailing, 4-2.
Syracuse postseason run had ended, but its 2012 success was reflected in the final statistics. The Orange scored 39 goals, nearly doubling its 2011 total (20). SU also tied for third nationally with 12 shutouts, the second-most clean sheets for the program in one year.
Vale concluded the campaign as the squad's offensive leader with a team-best nine goals and 21 points. The rookie midfielder was named a third-team freshman All-American by College Soccer News. In addition, he was picked to the NSCAA All-Northeast Region Second Team, the All-BIG EAST Third Team and the BIG EAST All-Rookie Team.
Bono also had a sensational rookie year. He posted a 13-6-1 record and 10 shutouts. He received freshman All-America honors from College Soccer News, Soccer America and TopDrawerSoccer.com. In addition, Bono was named the BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week three times during the regular season and he was voted to the BIG EAST All-Rookie Team.
Several more players received various individual honors throughout the season, including Clark who was an NSCAA All-Northeast Region Third Team selection, and Murrell who was named to the All-BIG EAST Third Team after leading SU with seven assists.
Head coach Ian McIntyre and assistants Jukka Masalin and Mike Miller were tabbed the BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year for authoring the team's turnaround.
2012 Men's Soccer Awards
MVP – Chris Makowski
Rookie of the Year – Alex Bono
Most Improved Player – Tyler Hilliard
Golden Boot Award – Jordan Vale
Coaches' Award – Matt Stith
Dean Foti Award – Mark Brode
