Lassiter's OT Goal Lifts Orange by Bucknell

August 30, 2015

LEWISBURG, Pa. – Redshirt sophomore Kenny Lassiter (Narbeth, Pa.) scored in the 95th minute to give the No. 15 Syracuse men’s soccer team a 1-0 victory in overtime at Bucknell on Sunday, Aug. 30. The goal was the first of his career and gave the Orange its first win in 2015.

The winning goal was set up by senior Korab Syla (Yonkers, N.Y.), who played the ball forward to junior Chris Nanco (Brampton, Ontario). Nanco flicked the ball to Lassiter, who fired a shot toward the goal. Bucknell goalkeeper Mike Lansing tried to block the shot, but he couldn’t control the ball as it bounced off him and into the back of the net for the game winner.

“It was a good soccer match,” Syracuse head coach Ian McIntyre said. ”I thought in the first half we were up and the second half was an even game. At the start of overtime, we took the game to them. It was a very important win for our young team.”

Syracuse freshman goalkeeper Austin Aviza (Medway, Mass.) kept Syracuse in the match as he held the Bison off the scoreboard. He finished with a season-high nine saves, including five in the second half, and recorded his first career shutout.

The Orange (1-1) dictated play in the first half and created several scoring chances. Syracuse’s best opportunity came in the 34th minute when freshman Kamal Miller (Scarborough, Ontario) played the ball from the left side into the box where Lassiter tried to head the ball into the right corner of the goal, but his shot went wide. Aviza stopped all three Bison shots on goal in the first half, including a diving save in the 26th minute.

Bucknell (1-1) had its best scoring chances after intermission. Aviza made a save on Connor Willings’ shot in the 61st minute. He was tested again 25 seconds later when he stopped Jesse Klug’s shot. Aviza couldn’t control the ball and the rebound went to Willings, whose header went wide to keep the game tied.

The Orange outshot the Bison, 19-13, and had six corner kicks to four for Bucknell. Lansing finished with eight saves.

“I thought we played well and created some good scoring chances,” McIntyre said. “We’re still a work in progress. One of the positives from this game is the number of young players who played and started. To come away with a victory is a step in the right direction.”

Syracuse makes its home debut on Friday, Sept. 4 when it hosts UC Riverside in the first round of the Central New York Classic. Admission at the SU Soccer Stadium is free of charge. Fans are invited to stay on campus to watch the Orange football squad in its season opener against Rhode Island in the Carrier Dome at 7 p.m. that evening.

AGATE
1st 2nd 1OT Final

Syracuse 0 0 1 1
Bucknell 0 0 0 0

Scoring:
94:28 SU Kenny Lassiter (Chris Nanco)

Shots: Syracuse 19, Bucknell 13
Corner Kicks: Syracuse 6, Bucknell 4
Saves: Syracuse 9 (Austin Aviza), Bucknell 8 (Mike Lansing)

Attendance: 705

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