Strong Second Half Leads Orange by Miami

October 13, 2013

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse women’s soccer team broke open a tight game in the second half, netting all of its goals after intermission in a 3-0 victory against Miami at the SU Soccer Stadium. The win is the Orange’s first home ACC victory, improving its league record to 2-6-1. Overall, SU improves to 6-8-1.

After neither team scored in the first half, Miami (8-5-0, 3-5-0) applied offensive pressure early in the second as the Hurricanes recorded seven shots in the first 15 minutes of action. Syracuse goalkeeper Brittany Anghel (East Meadow, N.Y.) made four of her six saves during the stretch, none bigger than her back-to-back stops on shots by Miami’s Betsy Middleton. Anghel blocked Middleton’s first shot from three yards out, but the ball ricocheted right back to Middleton, who tried again to get a shot by Anghel. Anghel was there again for the save, this time smothering the ball to keep the game even.

The Orange broke through in the 61st minute when sophomore Jackie Firenze (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) played the ball forward to the right corner. Sophomore Maya Pitts (Montclair, N.J.) battled a Hurricane defender for the ball and dribbled it into the box where she put her shot past Emily Lillard for the only goal the Orange would need.

Syracuse increased its lead less than two minutes later after Lillard took down junior Alexis Koval (Syracuse, N.Y.) in the box as both were going for a ball that been played forward. The Orange was awarded a penalty kick, which freshman Stephanie Skilton (Auckland, New Zealand) converted for her team-leading eighth goal of the season. Syracuse added an insurance tally in the 86th minute. Senior Cecilia Borgstrom (Stockholm, Sweden) got off a shot from the left side that Lillard blocked but could not control. The ball went off Lillard to SU sophomore Erin Simon (Oakhurst, N.J.) on the left side of the box, who netted her fifth goal of the year for the 3-0 final.

Syracuse was the more dangerous team in the first half, outshooting Miami, 6-2. The Orange’s best scoring chance came in the 34th minute when Firenze blasted a shot from 25 yards out that Lillard used her fingertips to deflect it over the crossbar. SU could not take advantage of the ensuring corner kick, one of three the Orange earned in the first half.

Anghel posted her 22nd career shutout and 27th career win, both of which are school records. In two games this week, Anghel allowed just one goal in 184 minutes played.

Prior to the game, Syracuse’s senior class, including Anghel, Borgstrom, Kayla Afonso (Toronto, Canada), Rachel Blum (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) and Jackie Moriarty (Ashburn, Virginia) were honored in a pregame ceremony. The group will play its final regular-season home game at the SU Soccer Stadium on Oct. 24 against Maryland.

Syracuse has two road games prior to hosting the Terrapins. The Orange travels to Chapel Hill, N.C. on Thursday, Oct. 17 to take on defending national champion North Carolina before taking on North Carolina State in Raleigh on Sunday, Oct. 20.

AGATE
1st 2nd Final
Miami 0 0 0
Syracuse 0 3 3

AGATE
61:33 SU Maya Pitts
63:30 SU Stephanie Skilton (Penalty Kick)
86:50 SU Erin Simon (Cecilia Borgstrom)

Shots: Syracuse 14, Miami 11
Corner Kicks: Syracuse 5, Miami 5
Saves: Syracuse 6 (Brittany Anghel), Miami 6 (Emily Lillard 4, Team 2)

Attendance: 721