Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMSOC | Orange heads into 'murderer's row' in schedule
By Matt Ehalt
Posted: 9/25/08, 11:17 PM EST Section: Sports
Kyle Hall didn't hesitate.
When asked about the four ranked opponents that loom on the Syracuse University men's soccer team's schedule in the upcoming weeks, the junior forward immediately placed the games in their proper context.
"This is our season right now," Hall said. "This is ultimately important. We need to go into this next game against Providence with fire and really come out strong because this is like the pinnacle for our season. If we lose, it's not going to be the end of it, but we just need to win it so it doesn't go into cycles like last year and the year before."
Syracuse will look to defeat a ranked opponent for the first time today in its Big East home opener against No. 22 Providence at 7 p.m. at the SU Soccer Stadium. Providence is the second of five straight ranked opponents on Syracuse's schedule (then-No. 3 Notre Dame defeated Syracuse 3-0 Sunday). Syracuse will also host No. 5 UConn Sunday afternoon.
Further complicating matters for SU is the health of All-Big East preseason selection Hansen Woodruff. Woodruff, second on the team with five points, did not play in the last two games due to a leg injury he suffered in practice last week and is a game-time decision for this weekend, SU head coach Dean Foti said. Woodruff, a junior forward, said he feels close to 100 percent, and he expects to play against Providence.
SU will have to buck some trends that have haunted it in the past few years to try and upset its upcoming opponents. Last season, SU went 1-3 against the four upcoming squads (road games at No. 19 USF and No. 4 St. John's are in the next two weeks). The Orange is also 3-10-1 against the squads in the last four years, with two of the wins coming against USF. In its last 25 games against ranked opponents, SU is 4-16-5.
Having five such games in a row makes matters even more pressing for the Orange. Had the games been stretched out, Syracuse would have the opportunity to play non-ranked teams that could result in wins and give Foti's team more votes in the national rankings. Instead, the difficult stretch could quickly start SU off at 1-5 in the Big East season.
When asked about the four ranked opponents that loom on the Syracuse University men's soccer team's schedule in the upcoming weeks, the junior forward immediately placed the games in their proper context.
"This is our season right now," Hall said. "This is ultimately important. We need to go into this next game against Providence with fire and really come out strong because this is like the pinnacle for our season. If we lose, it's not going to be the end of it, but we just need to win it so it doesn't go into cycles like last year and the year before."
Syracuse will look to defeat a ranked opponent for the first time today in its Big East home opener against No. 22 Providence at 7 p.m. at the SU Soccer Stadium. Providence is the second of five straight ranked opponents on Syracuse's schedule (then-No. 3 Notre Dame defeated Syracuse 3-0 Sunday). Syracuse will also host No. 5 UConn Sunday afternoon.
Further complicating matters for SU is the health of All-Big East preseason selection Hansen Woodruff. Woodruff, second on the team with five points, did not play in the last two games due to a leg injury he suffered in practice last week and is a game-time decision for this weekend, SU head coach Dean Foti said. Woodruff, a junior forward, said he feels close to 100 percent, and he expects to play against Providence.
SU will have to buck some trends that have haunted it in the past few years to try and upset its upcoming opponents. Last season, SU went 1-3 against the four upcoming squads (road games at No. 19 USF and No. 4 St. John's are in the next two weeks). The Orange is also 3-10-1 against the squads in the last four years, with two of the wins coming against USF. In its last 25 games against ranked opponents, SU is 4-16-5.
Having five such games in a row makes matters even more pressing for the Orange. Had the games been stretched out, Syracuse would have the opportunity to play non-ranked teams that could result in wins and give Foti's team more votes in the national rankings. Instead, the difficult stretch could quickly start SU off at 1-5 in the Big East season.
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