Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMSOC | Gametime decision on starter after both goalies injured
By Kyle Austin
Posted: 9/7/07, 12:15 AM EST Section: Sports
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Heading into the Wolstein Classic last weekend in Columbus, Ohio, junior and two-year starting goalie Rob Cavicchia was nursing a hip injury and was listed as day-to-day. Shortly before the season opener against Penn State on Friday, SU head coach Dean Foti decided to start Robert Smith, his backup goalie who had seen only 45 minutes of action in two years, opting for inexperience over injury.
The team continues play this weekend at the Mayor's Cup in Oneonta, N.Y. The Orange will take on Seton Hall tonight at 5 p.m. and James Madison on Sunday at 1 p.m.
The decision paid off as Smith shined in his first start, recording a shutout and three saves in a 4-0 win. He continued his solid play on Sunday, playing 79 minutes of shutout soccer against Ohio State. It appeared the goalkeeper issue had become a non-issue.
Then it got complicated.
An elbow to the back of the head on a crossing throw-in play gave Smith a bloody nose and knocked him out of the game. Cavicchia had to come off the bench - something he had never done at Syracuse - to play the last 30 minutes, despite his injury. He gave up no goals and the game ended in a 0-0 double-overtime tie.
So after the uncertainty before and during the weekend, the Orange emerged with one win, one tie and two goalies who have yielded zero goals, all coming against teams SU had gone 1-31-4 against before Friday. For Foti, Smith's success came as no surprise, despite his inexperience.
"He's a good goalkeeper," Foti said. "We have every bit of confidence in him as we do any of the keepers, just like any of the substitutes on the field. We tell them that when they go in, the level can't go down. That's how you justify your spot on the team."
Foti will have to choose between his two day-to-day keepers, a decision he said will once again be made shortly before gametime. Smith did not practice on Tuesday while he waited to be cleared for play by medical staff. Cavicchia was able to return to practice immediately after feeling healthy on Sunday.
"I'm pretty good right now," Cavicchia said. "I feel almost 100 percent so I'm able to move everywhere. So there aren't really any restrictions."
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