Syracuse ACC struggles, but should fans be worried yet?
By: Timmy Weiss | @TimmyWeiss3
After starting the season 6-1-1, Syracuse women’s soccer is now 0-2 to start ACC play. The Orange have also been outscored 5-1 in its last two matchups. But if you’re an SU fan should you be worried yet?
Well, let’s take a deeper look at it. Before the start of ACC play Syracuse allowed just 3 goals in 8 games. Now the team has given up 5 goals in just 2 games, 4 of which came against SMU. That doesn’t sound great on paper, but in reality, it’s not as bad as it looks. In the 4-1 loss to SMU, Syracuse held the majority of the play in the first half and only went down 1-0 because of an unlucky bounce.
Also, in the 1-0 loss against Virginia Tech, SU also had its fair amount of chances in the first half. The Orange easily could’ve scored to take the lead multiple times, but couldn’t bury it in the net. Then, in familiar fashion, an unlucky bounce in the 41st minute led to a Hokies goal. The point is that neither of these scorelines reflected the true nature of the game and that SU competing with good teams shouldn’t be a concern. Let’s remember that earlier this season Syracuse took down Northwestern, a team that Virginia Tech lost to.
The Orange have experience against good squads and have won, so just because they lost to SMU and Virginia Tech, who are now both 2-0 in the ACC, the best conference in all of women’s soccer, there’s no reason to worry.
With all of that said there is one problem Syracuse needs to solve as they continue ACC play. All season long the team has leaned on its defense to help them. Shea Vanderbosch has been rock solid in net and centerbacks Kylen Grant and Anna Croyle have been anchors at the back alongside Iba Oching and Kate Murphy.
But at some point, the scorers need to step up. The only goal the Orange have scored since the start of ACC play is an Erin Flurey penalty kick. Surprisingly, the team hasn’t created a lack of chances or has had trouble being creative up top. SU had golden chances against both SMU and Virginia Tech, but the team wasn’t able to capitalize.
The only downside is that the chances are coming in bunches. For 20 minutes the team is firing on all cylinders and a goal seems like it’s coming and then the next 20 minutes the team goes without a single shot. It’s natural for this to happen in soccer, except not at this rate. Going 20 or more minutes without having the ball in the attacking third is devastating to the defense.
The prime example was the 2nd half against SMU when SU allowed three goals after they barely had the ball in the attacking third. To compete against the best teams in the ACC goals are important, but even a little extra time in the final third works wonders.
Preventing the defense from facing pressure for extended periods of time is as critical as scoring goals because great teams will capitalize after long attacking periods.
With that being said Syracuse has its biggest test yet to see if it can compete with the best of the best tonight. SU takes on No 2 Florida State in Tallahassee at 7.
The Seminoles are undefeated and have only allowed 1 goal all season. Last year SU took them to the wire and suffered a 3-2 loss, so don’t rule out a loss just yet.
The Orange will be on the back foot for the vast majority of the game, but every bit of time in the attacking third is critical to getting a result. If the Cuse show it can compete against the Noles, you may just wanna watch out for this squad the rest of the year.
