Women’s Soccer Finishes Non-Conference Play With a Win
By Nick Petraccione SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse Women’s Soccer finished their non-conference schedule strong with a 2-0 win over University at Buffalo on Thursday.
The Orange defense proved again how dominant it is. This shutout marks the sixth clean sheet of the season with ten games still left to play. That’s a dramatic improvement from 2015, when the Orange only recorded four shutouts.
While both teams held each other scoreless, Syracuse’s offense came to life in the second half. After two quick passes in the box, Orange forward Sydney Brackett found Sheridan Street, who slotted it past Bison goalkeeper Laura Dougall making it 1-0 in the 69th minute.
Syracuse’s Alana O’Neill added an insurance goal in the 89th minute after blowing past defenders for an easy breakaway goal.
With ACC play quickly approaching, Junior Eva Gordon knew getting the offense going in this game would be critical moving forward.
“We spoke in the locker room and we wanted to set the standard this game,” Gordon said. “When our speed of play is up we play amazing, and if we continue that into ACC play I think we are going to really succeed.”
Conference play is right around the corner, and the ACC features some of the most dominant teams in the country. Of the ten games left in the season, six are against top-25 opponents.
Syracuse knows this is a big step up from the competition they’ve faced so far this season, but they are ready for it.
“We have to be ready for the speed of play and the quick counters,” Gordon said. “They will punish us if we turn the ball over or if make silly mistakes in the defensive half. We have to be sharper.”
Syracuse kicks off ACC play against #20 Notre Dame at home on Sunday September 18th at 12pm.
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