Spring Break
The Daily OrangeOrange embraces spoiler role in final 2 games
By Andrew Meola
Posted: 10/26/09, 11:31 PM EST Section: Sports
For all the disappointment this season, the Syracuse men's soccer team still has a reason to take the field. Though Syracuse has been mathematically eliminated from the Big East tournament, the final two games of the season can provide some redemption.
The Orange (2-14, 1-8 Big East) may have ended its postseason hopes with a 2-1 loss to DePaul Saturday, but the chance to play for pride and become the spoiler in the Big East will keep the team motivated heading into its last two games.
"Win, lose or draw, you play the game because you love it," senior co-captain Pete Hill said. "And obviously it's easier to play, and enjoy things, when everything's going great and you're putting together winning streaks. But you really do play the game because you love it, and once you quit doing that, it quits being fun.
"So, I still love playing, I love going out every day and giving it my all. And I know that (my teammates) feel the same way."
Hill and the rest of the Syracuse soccer team will take that mentality into its last two games, hoping to end a season of turmoil on a positive note. But if this season has shown anything, it is that two wins are anything but a guarantee.
Syracuse has not won back-to-back games at any point during this season, but that is precisely what it can do to close out a disappointing 2009 campaign. The first opportunity to throw a monkey wrench into the Big East standings starts Wednesday night at SU Soccer Stadium, when Syracuse takes on in-state rival St. John's.
"It's just going to take that extra little bit of concentration off the field in preparing, the extra little bit of motivation in warm-ups and on the field," Hill said. "Just that little bit extra that we all know that we have, that has shown up throughout the season when we put together successful performances."
The Orange has not made the postseason since 2005, and has only qualified for the Big East tournament three times in the last 10 seasons. With the DePaul loss, that streak continues this year.
The Orange (2-14, 1-8 Big East) may have ended its postseason hopes with a 2-1 loss to DePaul Saturday, but the chance to play for pride and become the spoiler in the Big East will keep the team motivated heading into its last two games.
"Win, lose or draw, you play the game because you love it," senior co-captain Pete Hill said. "And obviously it's easier to play, and enjoy things, when everything's going great and you're putting together winning streaks. But you really do play the game because you love it, and once you quit doing that, it quits being fun.
"So, I still love playing, I love going out every day and giving it my all. And I know that (my teammates) feel the same way."
Hill and the rest of the Syracuse soccer team will take that mentality into its last two games, hoping to end a season of turmoil on a positive note. But if this season has shown anything, it is that two wins are anything but a guarantee.
Syracuse has not won back-to-back games at any point during this season, but that is precisely what it can do to close out a disappointing 2009 campaign. The first opportunity to throw a monkey wrench into the Big East standings starts Wednesday night at SU Soccer Stadium, when Syracuse takes on in-state rival St. John's.
"It's just going to take that extra little bit of concentration off the field in preparing, the extra little bit of motivation in warm-ups and on the field," Hill said. "Just that little bit extra that we all know that we have, that has shown up throughout the season when we put together successful performances."
The Orange has not made the postseason since 2005, and has only qualified for the Big East tournament three times in the last 10 seasons. With the DePaul loss, that streak continues this year.
Be the first to comment on this story