Come-From-Behind Win Puts Orange in NCAA Third Round

Sunday, November 22

Syracuse, N.Y.

2 p.m.

Syracuse University

14-5-3

Dartmouth

12-6-1

Dartmouth

Syracuse

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

Come-From-Behind Win Puts Orange in NCAA Third Round

11/22/2015 5:42:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Syracuse will host Seattle next Sunday at 1 p.m.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – No. 6 Syracuse will play in the NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament third round for the second consecutive year and for the third time in the last four years after defeating Dartmouth, 2-1, at the SU Soccer Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 22. The Orange overcame an early deficit and had a late defensive stand in the victory.

"This was a typical NCAA Tournament game," said Syracuse head coach Ian McIntyre. "There were highs and lows for both sides, but a terrific college soccer match. We knew we would be challenged a lot today. We're happy to be in the draw. There's going to be a number of very good teams not playing next week. We're excited to be afforded the opportunity to keep on playing."

Syracuse (14-5-3) immediately applied offensive pressure but couldn't connect its passes in the final third. Although the Orange was dominating possession, Dartmouth (12-6-1) was the first to get on the scoreboard when Matt Greer played a through ball to Justin Donawa, who put his shot into the back of the net in 30th minute. It was the first goal Syracuse had allowed in more than 245 minutes of action and it marked the first time the Orange trailed in a match since the season finale on Oct. 30.

Junior Ben Polk answered for the Orange less than four minutes later. He took a pass from sophomore Julien Buescher with his back to the goal. Polk turned and fired a shot, which went off the crossbar and landed past the goal line for his team-leading 10th goal of the season.

The Orange tallied the go-ahead goal in the 55th minute. The play started with a free kick by Buescher, but his shot was blocked. He eventually took possession again on the right side, where he worked along the end line, spun and slid the ball to junior Louis Cross. Cross put his shot past Dartmouth goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland to give Syracuse a 2-1 lead. For Buescher, it was his team-best 10th of the season, which is the fourth-highest single-season total in school history.

Syracuse continued to send numbers forward to try to add to its lead, and Dartmouth was able to get quality scoring chances on the counterattack. Donawa had a chance on a breakaway, but his shot went just wide of the left post in the 66th minute.

The Big Green's best opportunities came with less than five minutes remaining. Donawa had a shot that was stopped by freshman defender Miles Robinson. The ball deflected to Amadu Kunateh, who put another shot on goal. This time it was Cross who was there to knock it away. Dartmouth had one more chance during the sequence, but Yima Asom's shot went wide to end the threat. The Big Green was called for offsides on its final possession as time was running down as Syracuse improved its home record to 9-1-2 this season.

"We're a team – and we pride ourselves in this – that only has one speed and that is full speed," McIntyre said. "Sometimes that means that if you are going for that third goal, you can open yourself up a little bit. Dartmouth has some real athletes and some wonderful players, and so when the ball turned over in transition, I thought they caused us problems. But we were looking for that third goal until probably the last 15 minutes when we kind of hunkered down a little bit.

"There's that balance at times. If you score that third goal, the game is over. As it happened today, we didn't and once again, credit to Dartmouth. But our guys were phenomenal. For most of our guys, this is their first national tournament game. It's an emotional roller coaster. When needed, the guys put bodies on the line. I'm very proud of them."

Syracuse held a slight edge in shots, 14-13, and earned six corner kicks to just one for the Big Green. Orange goalkeeper Hendrik Hilpert made three saves, while Cleveland finished with four.

The Orange will host an NCAA Tournament Third Round match for the first time in program history on Sunday, Nov. 29 at 1 p.m. at the SU Soccer Stadium. Syracuse will take on Seattle.