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The Daily OrangeMSOC | Orange's stout defense stifles DePaul's offensive attack
By Matt Ehalt
Posted: 10/20/08, 4:55 AM EST Section: Sports
Robert Cavicchia found himself pretty much relegated to a spectator during the SU men's soccer team's game against DePaul Saturday night.
He saw five shots the entire night, only one of which was on goal. One shot. One save. It was like he didn't even need to show up.
So when asked if he even broke a sweat Saturday, the senior joked that he did during warm-ups before saying he sweat a little during the game - but his first answer may have been the truth.
Behind a suffocating defensive effort, the SU earned its eighth shutout of the season by blanking DePaul, 1-0, Saturday night at SU Soccer Stadium. The Syracuse shutout may have been its finest defensive performance of the season.
"Definitely an easier game for me because the guys in front of me did the right things," Cavicchia said. "That's what we (the defensive unit) practice for all week and mainly for me, it was a lot of communication, keeping things safe in the back. I think it went well. I made one save that I had to make. That's an awesome night."
Syracuse held DePaul to five shots and only one shot on goal, both second lowest of the season.
SU previously held Florida Gulf Coast to zero shots, but holding DePaul to one shot on goal was more impressive considering DePaul made the NCAA Tournament last year and FGC is 3-8-1.
SU's four defensemen Pete Hill, Karol Wasielewski, Brien Chamney and Justin Arena effectively neutralized any offense the Blue Demons had throughout the night. While DePaul doesn't exactly light up the scoreboard (eight goals in 14 games), opportunities to do such were nonexistent. Losing Steffen Vroom, Big East Offensive Player of the Week, to injury in the first half didn't help either.
DePaul had three shots in the first half, none of which were on goal. In the second half, the team had two shots, one of which went on goal with 36:32 remaining. Its second shot in the half came with about 30 seconds left in the game when DePaul went into a panic mode to try and notch the equalizer.
He saw five shots the entire night, only one of which was on goal. One shot. One save. It was like he didn't even need to show up.
So when asked if he even broke a sweat Saturday, the senior joked that he did during warm-ups before saying he sweat a little during the game - but his first answer may have been the truth.
Behind a suffocating defensive effort, the SU earned its eighth shutout of the season by blanking DePaul, 1-0, Saturday night at SU Soccer Stadium. The Syracuse shutout may have been its finest defensive performance of the season.
"Definitely an easier game for me because the guys in front of me did the right things," Cavicchia said. "That's what we (the defensive unit) practice for all week and mainly for me, it was a lot of communication, keeping things safe in the back. I think it went well. I made one save that I had to make. That's an awesome night."
Syracuse held DePaul to five shots and only one shot on goal, both second lowest of the season.
SU previously held Florida Gulf Coast to zero shots, but holding DePaul to one shot on goal was more impressive considering DePaul made the NCAA Tournament last year and FGC is 3-8-1.
SU's four defensemen Pete Hill, Karol Wasielewski, Brien Chamney and Justin Arena effectively neutralized any offense the Blue Demons had throughout the night. While DePaul doesn't exactly light up the scoreboard (eight goals in 14 games), opportunities to do such were nonexistent. Losing Steffen Vroom, Big East Offensive Player of the Week, to injury in the first half didn't help either.
DePaul had three shots in the first half, none of which were on goal. In the second half, the team had two shots, one of which went on goal with 36:32 remaining. Its second shot in the half came with about 30 seconds left in the game when DePaul went into a panic mode to try and notch the equalizer.
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