SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Junior Tony Asante (Bronx, N.Y.) scored an insurance goal in the 73rd minute, and freshman goalie Alex Bono (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) completed the clean sheet as the Syracuse men’s soccer team (1-0-0) defeated Albany, 2-0, in the season opener for both teams Friday, Aug. 24 at the SU Soccer Stadium. A record crowd of 1,581 fans were on hand to witness the victory.

“The crowd was awesome tonight,” SU head coach Ian McIntyre said. “It’s moments like these that make you proud to be associated with the program.”

The Orange won its seventh home opener in the last eight years. Syracuse applied consistent pressure throughout the match and outshot Albany, 22-7, for the game, including a 14-4 advantage in the second half. The Orange also held an 11-2 margin in corner kicks.

Syracuse notched the match’s first score early in the second half when a throw by rookie Ben Ramin (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) deflected off of a Great Dane defender and into the back of the net for an own goal in the 50th minute.

SU tacked on an insurance goal a little less than 23 minutes later when senior Lars Muller (Brandenburg, Germany) dribbled the ball down the left wing and passed to Asante who tapped it in for his first Orange goal.

Bono played all 90 minutes and recorded two saves in his collegiate debut. In addition, he became the first true freshman goalie to start a season opener for the Orange since Robert Cavicchia in 2005. Cavicchia also notched a shutout that day, blanking Marist in overtime, 1-0.

For Albany (0-1-0), keeper Tim Allen recorded eight saves. Philip Persson and Anthony Rozzano led the Great Danes with two shots apiece.

The Orange is back in action on Tuesday, Aug. 28 at Binghamton. The match is set for 7 p.m. at the Bearcats Sports Complex.

Game Notes: McIntyre improved to 8-4-2 all-time in season openers with Friday’s win … The Orange is now 4-1-1 all-time against Albany … In addition to Bono, Asante and Ramin, rookies Jordan Vale (Auckland, New Zealand), Stefanos Stamoulacatos (Camillus, N.Y.) and Noah Rhynhart (Albany, N.Y.) made their Orange debuts … Bono, Stamoulacatos and Vale all were part of the SU starting 11 … The Orange rookies combined for 12 total shots, five shots on goal, two saves, and one goal in the contest … The crowd of 1,581 eclipsed the previous SU Soccer Stadium record of 1,493 fans who were on hand for the opening of the facility on Oct. 5, 1996 versus Notre Dame.

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