Syracuse humbled in the first ACC battle against SMU with a 4-1 loss.

By Timmy Weiss | @TimmyWeiss3  

DALLAS, T.X. – 10 minutes into the game, Syracuse women’s soccer looked dynamic, dangerous, connected, and all over a solid SMU team.  Anna Rupert nearly scored on a header in the fifth minute and shortly after that Maya McDermott came inches away from getting the Orange on top.

But, once it hit the 11th minute everything changed. On SMU’s first chance of the game, a ball bounced right to a player in front of the net and there was no chance of stopping the inevitable goal.  Although SU did get some of its mojo back at points throughout the half, it never looked as dangerous as the team had been in those first 10 minutes.  The closest the Cuse came to equalizing was on a Maya McDermott pinpoint header that just drifted just over the bar.  Other than that though Syracuse started to lose its spark as the half went on, but what really killed them was that the team never got its groove back the rest of the game. 

When the second half started every word I used to describe Syracuse in the first 10 minutes, SMU embodied.  The Orange were struggling to hold on to a 1-goal lead and by the 49th minute, they trailed by 2.  Then after multiple other chances and a lack of chances for SU, the Mustangs delivered another goal blow in the 64th minute.  From then on the comeback seemed far-fetched, but Erin Flurey provided a glimmer of hope with a penalty kick goal in the 72nd minute to make the deficit just 2.  Only 3 minutes later every last hope was shattered as the Mustangs piled on a 4th goal in the 75th minute.  Although Syracuse (6-2-1, 0-1 Atlantic coast) showed promising signs, it ended up falling handily to the hands of SMU (5-3-0, 1-0) 4-1.  

It certainly was not the start the Orange had hoped for in the first battle of ACC play.  Through 8 games this season SU had only allowed 3 goals and today that mark was surpassed singlehandedly by SMU.  Although some of the 4 goals may have had a bit of luck to them, the game very well could’ve been more than 4 goals allowed.  Cuse goalkeeper Shea Vanderbosch continued to impress, including a highlight reel double save in the 70th minute to keep the deficit at 3.  

Syracuse has its next test this Sunday at noon at Virginia Tech.  The Hokies did fall to Northwestern 1-0 a team Syracuse beat, but that’s only one of two losses this year.  There’s no doubt VT will be a formidable foe at 6-2-1.  

eweiss10@syr.edu | @TimmyWeiss3