Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMSOC | Late goal helps Syracuse end winless streak
By Michael Bonner
Posted: 10/20/08, 4:53 AM EST Section: Sports
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Why not? In what was a must win for the Orange after going winless in its last four, SU rode midfielder Tom Perevegyencev's 86th-minute goal to a narrow win in front of 746 fans Saturday at a chilly SU Soccer Stadium.
"It's definitely a huge win," Schomaker said. "We had a week to prepare for this game and all week the message was stressed this was a must-win game, we have to win it for the Big East and our overall standings."
The win, which moved Syracuse into sixth in the Big East Red Division, was a product of constant offensive pressure throughout the game. Syracuse's leap in the standings was significant because the top six teams from each division advance to the conference tournament.
In the final 13 minutes of the contest, the Orange (6-4-3, 3-4-1 Big East) fired seven shots. It managed six the previous 77 minutes. The shot barrage forced the Blue Demons (6-5-3, 4-3-1 Big East) to play defensively, and with six minutes left, Syracuse forced the corner kick that led to Perevegyencev's game-winner.
As the corner sailed in, forward Hansen Woodruff rose to head the ball that seemed destined for the back of the net, but clanked off the crossbar. On the rebound, Pete Hill attempted to punch it in, but the ball was deflected back.
Defender Brien Chamney kept the ball in the zone and set up Schomaker, whose header also hit the crossbar. Finally, Perevegyencev poked the rebound across the goal line.
"I tried to get to the back of the post where I could get the ball," Schomaker said. "Luckily it came to my head, I mean I would have liked it to go in, but it hits the post and goes right to Tom and he scores. I'll take it."
The Orange had three shots in a minute and a half during the sequence that led to the goal. After the goal, instead of letting up, SU kept the same intensity. In the final five minutes, DePaul got off one shot.
Early on, SU's offensive gameplan was obvious. In the game's first five minutes, Kyle Hall streaked up the sidelines twice, receiving touch passes from Schomaker. After receiving the pass both times, Hall had potential breakaway opportunities. He had only one defender to beat to get to the goalie.
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