Spring Break
The Daily OrangeDespite loss, Syracuse remains optimistic about postseason chances
By Andrew L. John
Posted: 10/19/09, 3:06 AM EST Section: Sports
Coming into Saturday's game against No. 12 South Florida, the Syracuse men's soccer team was looking to climb its way back into the Big East tournament picture.
But after a 3-0 loss to the Bulls, the Orange conceivably took a step backward in its quest to make the Big East tournament for the first time since 2005.
Despite the loss, SU came away from the game with renewed confidence in its ability to make a final push for the tournament. Despite the lopsided score, the Orange played with a sense of urgency, knowing its postseason hopes are on the verge of slipping away.
The Orange held one of the top teams in the conference in check for most of the first half, ultimately conceding a pair of late goals in the second.
"Obviously, everybody's upset," said senior midfielder Kenny Caceros. "And if you look at the result, 3-0, it doesn't tell the story of the game at all, whatsoever. We know that, and they're one of the top teams in the country and the fact that we did as well as we did, it's going to carry into the next game.
"The effort was there and we can't leave with anything but confidence."
SU successfully defended two USF corner kicks in the game's first three minutes, as Hansen Woodruff, Manny Sevillano, Nick Olivetti and Elliott Townsend all had solid scoring opportunities within the game's first 15 minutes.
Though none of those scoring opportunities resulted in goals, the solid effort against one of the best teams in the country has SU looking towards its three remaining Big East games with a sense of optimism.
"Our effort was good tonight, really good actually," senior midfielder Elliott Townsend said. "Probably one of the hardest games we've played all season, but it just didn't work for us."
The Orange has three games remaining Big East games on its schedule over the next two weeks, with nine points up for grabs. SU will likely need all three wins to creep its way into the Big East tournament picture.
But after a 3-0 loss to the Bulls, the Orange conceivably took a step backward in its quest to make the Big East tournament for the first time since 2005.
Despite the loss, SU came away from the game with renewed confidence in its ability to make a final push for the tournament. Despite the lopsided score, the Orange played with a sense of urgency, knowing its postseason hopes are on the verge of slipping away.
The Orange held one of the top teams in the conference in check for most of the first half, ultimately conceding a pair of late goals in the second.
"Obviously, everybody's upset," said senior midfielder Kenny Caceros. "And if you look at the result, 3-0, it doesn't tell the story of the game at all, whatsoever. We know that, and they're one of the top teams in the country and the fact that we did as well as we did, it's going to carry into the next game.
"The effort was there and we can't leave with anything but confidence."
SU successfully defended two USF corner kicks in the game's first three minutes, as Hansen Woodruff, Manny Sevillano, Nick Olivetti and Elliott Townsend all had solid scoring opportunities within the game's first 15 minutes.
Though none of those scoring opportunities resulted in goals, the solid effort against one of the best teams in the country has SU looking towards its three remaining Big East games with a sense of optimism.
"Our effort was good tonight, really good actually," senior midfielder Elliott Townsend said. "Probably one of the hardest games we've played all season, but it just didn't work for us."
The Orange has three games remaining Big East games on its schedule over the next two weeks, with nine points up for grabs. SU will likely need all three wins to creep its way into the Big East tournament picture.
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