SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Redshirt freshman Tyler Hilliard (Atlanta, Ga.) and freshman Jordan Vale (Auckland, New Zealand) each scored a goal in the first half, as the SU men’s soccer team (12-4-0, 5-2-0 BIG EAST) defeated DePaul, 2-0, on Saturday, Oct. 20 at the SU Soccer Stadium. The five conference victories is the most for the program since 1999, while the triumph also gives SU its most overall wins in a season since the 1988 campaign.

“I’m so proud of the guys,” said SU head coach Ian McIntyre. “We have played three very tough games this week with two very emotional games on the road. The character, resolve and resilience were certainly there.”

Syracuse captured an early advantage when Jordan Murrell (Markham, Ontario) sent a free kick into the box, which was headed by Hilliard to the far post for his first career goal.

The Orange added to the cushion in the 40th minute as Vale headed a service from Juuso Pasanen (Steinhausen, Switzerland) into the back of the net.

SU continued to put pressure on the Blue Demons in the second period, but the pair of goals was all the Orange needed in its final regular season home game. The SU defense limited DePaul to five shots on goal en route to its 11th shutout of the season.

Rookie goalkeeper Alex Bono (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) made five saves and recorded his ninth shutout of the season to register his 11th win of the season.

DePaul (3-10-3, 0-6-1) goalie Eric Sorby made five saves, while Ray de Leon recorded four shots for the Blue Demons.

The Orange returns to the pitch in its final regular season match at St. John’s on Friday, Oct. 26. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. at Belson Stadium.

Match Notes: The match marked the final regular season home game for Mawuena Agbossoumonde (Syracuse, N.Y.), Evans Asiamah (North Brunswick, N.J.), Nick Bibbs (Ardmore, Pa.), Mark Brode (Setauket, N.Y.), Louis Clark (Brighton, England), Ted Cribley (Sheffield, England), Lars Muller (Brandenburg, Germany), Ryan Tessler (Newtown, Pa.) … The 11 shutouts are the most clean sheets for an Orange side since 1986.

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