Orange Shuts Out NC State, Advances to ACC Quarterfinals

Wednesday, November 4

Syracuse, N.Y.

7 p.m.

Syracuse University

11-5-2

NC State

8-6-3

NC State

Syracuse

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

Orange Shuts Out NC State, Advances to ACC Quarterfinals

11/4/2015 10:22:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Sophomore Julian Buescher scored his team-leading eighth goal of the season to lead No. 15/-- Syracuse to a 2-0 victory against North Carolina State in the first round of the ACC Tournament on Wednesday, Nov. 4. The Orange advances to the quarterfinals where it will take on No. 2 seed and fifth-ranked North Carolina.

"I thought we were outstanding in the first half," said Syracuse head coach Ian McIntyre. "It's a good NC State team and they took it to us in the second half. Sometimes you get a little nervous holding the lead so it was important to get that second goal. We know they have a lot of skilled players. We did a good job of limiting some of their space and then creating some good scoring chances."

The Orange (11-5-2) took the lead in the 11th minute when Buescher placed his free kick around the defensive wall and inside the far post. Syracuse continued to be the more dangerous team and nearly added to its lead in the 42nd minute when senior Noah Rhynhart served the ball into the box from the right side, but junior Chris Nanco's shot went just over the crossbar. The Orange earned a corner kick in the final minute of the first half, but couldn't get off a shot as it took a 1-0 lead into the locker room at intermission.

North Carolina State (8-6-3) controlled the pace of the game to start the second half as it earned two corner kicks and got off one shot in the first five minutes after the break, but the Orange defense was up to the task.

Redshirt sophomore Kenny Lassiter came off the bench in the 69th minute and gave an immediate boost to the Syracuse front line. Less than 90 seconds after entering the match, Lassiter assisted on the Orange's second goal. He brought the ball into the offensive end and sent it across the top of the box to Nanco, who put his shot past Wolfpack goalkeeper Alex McCauley into the top right corner of the goal.

On North Carolina State's ensuing possession, it earned a corner kick, which resulted in a header by Cameron Steele that went high. That would be the Wolfpack's final scoring opportunity as Syracuse improved its record at the SU Soccer Stadium to 8-1-2 this season.

The Orange outshot North Carolina State, 11-7, and recorded four corner kicks to three for the Wolfpack. Syracuse freshman goalkeeper Hendrik Hilpert and defenders Louis Cross, Kamal Miller and Miles Robinson combined to record the shutout. It was Hilpert's second of the season.

"It's important to get shutouts in the playoffs," McIntyre said. "You get a clean sheet and you fight and scrap to keep the other team off the scoreboard, then you have a chance to win some games."

Syracuse will travel to Chapel Hill to take on North Carolina on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. It will be the second time the teams have met there this season. The Orange led 1-0, but the Tar Heels scored twice in the final 20 minutes for the 2-1 victory on Oct. 10.