Orange Off to Best Start Since 2003

September 5, 2013

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse women’s soccer team scored twice in the first half and held on for a 2-1 victory against Fairleigh Dickinson on Thursday, Sept. 5 at the SU Soccer Stadium. With the win, the Orange extends its winning streak to three games and is off to its best start since 2003.

Senior goalkeeper Brittany Anghel (East Meadow, N.Y.) was credited with the victory. She now has 25 wins in her career, which gives her sole possession of first place on Syracuse’s all-time leader list.

The Orange (4-1) dominated the first half, producing nine shots while holding the Knights (2-2) to just one. Freshman Maddie Iozzi (Ajax, Ontario) netted the first goal of the game in the 22nd minute when her cross from the left side hit the far post and bounced into the back of the net for her first career goal. Syracuse’s second goal came on a set piece on a corner. Junior Megan Hunsberger (Bethlehem, Pa.) served the ball into the box where junior Alexis Koval (Syracuse, N.Y.) headed the ball into the goal for her first tally of the season.

Fairleigh Dickinson was more dangerous to start the second half, recording five shots in the first 13 minutes. The Knights broke through in the 61st minute when their corner kick into the box was punched out by Anghel. Kayla Adams controlled the ball and scored from 10 yards out to cut the lead in half.

The Orange had opportunities to extend its lead but couldn’t convert. Its best chance came with less than six minutes remaining when Koval got by the Knights’ goalkeeper Sage DoVale, but she couldn’t get off a shot. The Syracuse defense made the one-goal lead stand as SU remains unbeaten on its home field.

Syracuse improves its record to 4-1, which is its best start since the 2003 campaign. SU also started that season with a 4-1 mark after five contests.

The Orange finished the game with 11 shots and four corners to six shots and one corner for Fairleigh Dickinson. Anghel posted two saves, while DoVale had three.

Syracuse starts a stretch of four consecutive road games on Sunday, Sept. 8 at Connecticut in its final non-conference game of the season. Game time is set for 1 p.m. in Storrs.

AGATE
1st 2nd Final
Syracuse 2 0 2
Fairleigh Dickinson 0 1 1

Scoring:
22:37 SU Maddie Iozzi
28:31 SU Alexis Koval (Megan Hunsberger)
61:24 FDU Kayla Adams

Shots: Syracuse 11, FDU 6
Corner Kicks: Syracuse 4, FDU 1
Saves: Syracuse 2 (Brittany Anghel), FDU 3 (Sage DoVale)

Attendance: 317

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