What to know about Syracuse’s Elite 8 opponent Vermont

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Giona Leibold’s 83rd-minute objective towards Cornell gave Syracuse a spot within the Elite Eight for the primary time since 2015 — the yr the Orange superior to the Closing 4. Each two event wins this yr have been one-goal matches with clutch objectives on the finish of regulation or in extra time.

SU has been dominant within the midfield and controlling the tempo of play, outshooting Cornell and UPenn 39-20 in its two NCAA Match video games. The victory over the Massive Pink meant the Orange had defeated all of the opponents they’d misplaced to earlier within the season. 

SU now faces Vermont, which it performed and struggled towards earlier within the season. When the Orange traveled to Burlington, they initially had a lead, with Levonte Johnson scoring within the ninth minute. However after Johnson’s rating, the Catamounts by no means allowed Syracuse to keep up its tempo. The match resulted in a 1-1 draw with Vermont outshooting SU 10-7.

Now the 2 squads match up with one another once more, this time for an opportunity to go to Cary, North Carolina for the School Cup. Earlier than the Orange’s (16-2-4, 5-1-2 Atlantic Coast) Elite Eight matchup, right here’s all the pieces you’ll want to know in regards to the Catamounts (16-3-2, 5-1-1 America East). 

The final time the 2 performed:

The Orange got here to Burlington on Sept. 2 after choosing their first ranked win of the yr — a 1-0 victory over then-No. 21 Penn State at SU Soccer Stadium. The matchup towards the Catamounts was additionally SU’s first street recreation of the season. 

Within the opening minutes, the Catamounts took benefit of deflections and a number of SU fouls to remain on assault, whereas the Orange may barely register a shot. However Syracuse’s lone shot of the primary half stored it within the match. Johnson rapidly stutter stepped to shake off a defender and dump off a go to Nathan Opoku. Opoku reduce by Catamount defenders, finally passing the ball again to Johnson. Johnson fired a shot that hit the highest of the crossbar and squibbed into the web to present the Orange a 1-0 lead, his first objective with Syracuse. 

However Vermont’s Yaniv Bazini ran down the best aspect of the pitch. With SU goalkeeper Russell Shealy arrange on the best, Bazini despatched a bullet shot into the underside left nook, tying the match at one.

Within the second half, Vermont gained many one-on-one battles between the gamers and generated extra possibilities within the first 10 minutes. By the tip of the match, Vermont had extra photographs than Syracuse. This was one in every of simply two matches this season the place the Orange had been outshot by their opponents.

“(The Catamounts) did an excellent job of disrupting us, limiting our photographs and our photographs heading in the right direction,” head coach Ian McIntyre stated after the draw. “However we did the same factor to them.” 

The Catamount report:

Following its tie with Syracuse, Vermont went on an 11-game profitable streak, outscoring opponents 31-3 over that stretch. 

“(The Catamounts) are a really harmful group on restarts and placing balls heading in the right direction,” McIntyre stated. 

For the final seven matches of the streak, Vermont didn’t permit a single objective. Goalkeeper Nate Silveira has the second-best objectives towards common and save proportion within the convention. Silveira grew to become the sixth keeper in America East historical past to win the Goalkeeper of the 12 months award twice after profitable it in 2021. The Catamounts have the second-best scoring protection within the convention.

Even with a stable presence on each ends of the pitch, Vermont bowed out early within the 2022 America East Match. The Catamounts surrendered an 81st-minute objective to lose 1-0 to UAlbany within the convention semifinals. 

However with the Fifteenth-highest RPI within the nation (together with a draw towards SU and a victory over Cornell), Vermont earned an at-large bid to the event. Within the first spherical towards Quinnipiac, Egan scored a 74th-minute objective to degree the match at two objectives apiece, earlier than Alex Nagy gave Vermont the win in extra time.

The Catamounts once more discovered themselves trailing within the second half, falling behind 2-0 to No. 11 SMU. However Max Murray scored twice, then Garrett Lillie scored off of a excessive cross on the prime of the field to cement the upset. Again dwelling at Burlington, Vermont shut out UCLA — a group that had simply knocked off the defending champions No. 6 Clemson — 3-0 to advance and face Syracuse.  

Megan Thompson | Digital Design Director

How Syracuse beats Vermont:

McIntyre acknowledged the Catamounts had been excellent at disrupting SU possibilities and assaults. However all of the Orange want is one shot. The ACC and NCAA Tournaments proved that. SU can create fast counter assaults the place midfielders like Leibold can transfer down the pitch to both rating or arrange a cross. From there, Johnson and Opoku have been greater than proficient at discovering the again of the web. 

Leibold, together with Noah Singelmann may create stable crosses. For this to work although, gamers like Curt Calov should make a distinction on each ends of the pitch. One other path to success may very well be by drawing penalty photographs as Jeorgio Kocevski has been essential time and time once more from the penalty spot.

Stat to know: 140

Whereas Vermont might not have essentially the most photographs within the America East, it’s definitely essentially the most correct with 140 photographs on objective. The Catamounts additionally common essentially the most photographs on objective per recreation (16) within the convention. Of their matchup with Syracuse again in September, nevertheless, they solely acquired one shot on objective.

Participant to look at: Alex Nagy, midfielder, No. 13

Nagy has recorded essentially the most factors for the Catamounts this season with 9 objectives and 9 assists. The fifth-year participant additionally leads the group in photographs. In his first three seasons with the Catamounts, he solely had 12 whole factors, earlier than exploding offensively in 2021 with 20 factors. He additionally contributed three game-winning objectives this yr.