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In Syracuse’s season opener against Colgate, both teams were shut out for the first 87 minutes. With under three minutes left, Chimere Omeze’s goal propelled the Orange to their first win of the season.

Likewise, Niagara started its campaign with a match that came down to the wire. In a back-and-forth contest against UAlbany, the Purple Eagles equalized in the 84th minute. But with under two minutes in regulation, the Great Danes netted the game-winner.

Sunday in its home opener, No. 25 Syracuse (2-0-0, 0-0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) didn’t have to decide its fate in the final minutes against Niagara (0-2-0, 0-0-0 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference). Behind two first-half goals, the Orange defeated the Purple Eagles 3-0.

“We started really fast and really imposed ourselves,” SU head coach Ian McIntyre said postgame. “We were terrific at the start of the game.”

With 22 new additions to the roster this season, it took Syracuse time to get into a rhythm against Colgate. The Orange fired 16 shots, but only four made their way on target, narrowly escaping with a 1-0 win.

Three days later against the Purple Eagles, the Orange demonstrated increased shooting accuracy with five of eight shots on target in the first 24 minutes.

Just past the four-minute mark, Andre Cutler-DeJesus registered the game’s first shot, putting it on goal, but Niagara goalkeeper Jamie Barry swallowed it up. Four minutes later, Syracuse earned its second corner kick. Nicholas Kaloukian nearly gave SU the lead but his shot struck the crossbar.

After Niagara recorded its first shot in the 15th minute, the Orange moved the ball to the Purple Eagles’ end of the pitch. Within 10 seconds, Michael Acquah and Sachiel Ming each fired shots that were stonewalled by Barry.

“We kept going, which was something we talked about,” McIntyre said. “We stayed patient, we created chances, we had a number of corner kicks and we were knocking (on the door).”

In the 26th minute, Syracuse broke the deadlock. Ming controlled the ball in the left corner and dribbled to the goal. When he approached the six-yard box, he found Ezra Widman, who quickly struck the ball into the net for his first-career goal.

Syracuse remained on the front foot following its opening goal. In the 28th minute, Acquah found space near the back post, but missed the mark wide of the net. Two minutes later, Kaloukian fired off his third shot, which was thwarted.

In the 35th minute, SU earned a free kick. Elton Chifamba lifted the ball over Niagara’s two-man wall and over nearly all the players in the six-yard box. The ball carried to the back post where Omeze stood unmarked, and he headed it past the outstretched hands of Barry to give SU a 2-0 lead.

The tally marked SU’s second goal from a player with limited experience. Widman, a sophomore, and Omeze, a freshman, had given the Orange a commanding advantage.

“This year, we have a lot of freshmen (which) brings that freshness to the team, and that youth energy,” Kaloukian said. “It brings hunger to the locker room and it shows on the field.”

The Orange carried the lead into halftime without surrendering any more shots by Niagara. Through 45 minutes, SU held a 6-1 advantage in corner kicks while posting 15 shots.

For the first 10 minutes of the second half, Niagara presented a more aggressive look. The Purple Eagles worked the ball up the field and Jeremy Talsma gained space for a shot, but missed the net wide.

The different style of play required SU to respond. McIntyre said he was proud with how his team handled Niagara’s brief pressure. Soon after a yellow card by Niagara’s Felix Kogler, Kaloukian and Acquah hurried the ball up the middle of the field. Acquah took the ball to the right post before dropping it back to Kaloukian for a tap-in score to make it 3-0 lead in the 54th minute.

Syracuse dominated possession and held Niagara to zero shots for the remainder of the contest. SU used the time to get more of its new additions playing time.

Ernest Bawa, a transfer from North Carolina, fired two shots that were denied and Ben Rosenblatt registered his first shot of the season on a fast-paced strike in the 84th minute.

The Orange finished the contest with 17-of-28 shots on goal (60%), a large increase from their 25% shooting accuracy against Colgate, to stay undefeated.

“We probably should have registered a couple more, but three goals and a shutout at home to start the campaign, (I’m) delighted,” McIntyre said.

Published on August 25, 2024 at 11:57 pm

Contact Timmy at: tswilcox@syr.edu | @TimmyWilcox32