Early Goal Lifts Cardinals by Orange

September 19, 2014

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Syracuse women’s soccer team allowed a goal in the second minute of play in a 1-0 setback at Louisville in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opener for both schools on Friday, September 19.

The Cardinals (4-4-0, 1-0-0 ACC) were the more dangerous team in the first half. Louisville earned a corner kick 1:38 into the game and then scored on its first shot in the second minute when Erin Yenney was credited with a goal after her shot hit the crossbar and landed over the goal line to give UofL the lead. Freshman Courtney Brosnan (Short Hills, N.J.) made her collegiate debut in goal for the Orange and recorded two saves in the first half, but the Syracuse offense couldn’t get a shot off in the first 45 minutes.

“We defended poorly on a corner kick and that was the game,” said Syracuse head coach Phil Wheddon. “They had some long-range shots that didn’t really challenge our goalkeeper. We couldn’t connect our passes and turned the ball over.”

The Orange (3-3-3, 0-1 ACC) started to find its rhythm on offense at the beginning of the second half as it posted two shots on goal and a corner kick in the first 13 minutes of action. Brosnan made two saves in the second half to keep SU within striking distance, but Syracuse couldn’t find the back of the net.

“We played much better in the second half,” Wheddon said. “We got the ball out wide but our final pass was not good enough. Once again we had good opportunities but couldn’t finish. Give credit to Louisville, which worked hard and managed the game well during the last 10 minutes. We have to be more mature to start the game and we have to keep possession of the ball. We’re giving the ball away too easily and it is creating problems for us.”

The Cardinals outshot the Orange, 10-3, while Syracuse had three corner kicks to one for Louisville. Brosnan made four saves, while Paige Brown had three saves for Louisville.

The Orange’s road trip continues on Sunday, Sept. 21 when it plays at Cincinnati in its final non-conference match of the season at noon.

AGATE
1st 2nd Final
Syracuse 0 0 0
Louisville 1 0 1

Scoring:
2:03 UL Erin Yenney (Victoria Martinis)

Shots: Louisville 10, Syracuse 3
Corner Kicks: Syracuse 3, Louisville 1
Saves: Syracuse 4 (Courtney Brosnan), Louisville 3 (Paige Brown)

Attendance: 1,823

-- SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY: NEW YORK’S COLLEGE TEAM --