#4 Syracuse Hosts North Carolina in ACC Quarterfinals

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – No. 4 Syracuse men’s soccer begins its postseason journey with the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Quarterfinals against North Carolina on Sunday, Nov. 6. Kickoff at the SU Soccer Stadium is slated for 6 p.m. and will be televised live on ACC Network. Gates will open at 5 p.m. as tickets are $10 for the general public, $5 for youth and senior ages, and free for Syracuse University students with a valid SUID.

Sunday’s match marks the first ACC Championship match at the SU Soccer Stadium since 2016, when the Orange beat Pitt 4-0 in the first round. ‘Cuse is also looking for its first win in the ACC Championship since 2019.

ORANGE UPDATE:

Syracuse finished the 2022 regular season with a 12-2-3 record, matching the most wins in a season since 2016 and clinching the Atlantic Division title for the first time since 2014. The Orange check in at No. 4 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll, spending a seventh-straight week in the top-10. In the NCAA Selection Committee’s mid-season rankings, Syracuse placed fourth.

The Orange are unbeaten in its last six matches. The 2022 side won 17 points in ACC play, the most in a single season in program history.

Defense is a definitive aspect of head coach Ian McIntyre‘s squad. The Orange have only allowed 10 goals this season, which ranks second in the ACC. ‘Cuse has only allowed multiple goals in a single match once this season.

Forwards Nathan Opoku and Levonte Johnson are two of the best attackers in the ACC. Both forwards are tied for second in points with 20. Opoku leads the Orange in goals with eight, while Johnson has the team in assists with six.

LAST TIME OUT:

The Orange wrapped up the regular season with a 1-1 draw against Boston College. The Eagles opened the scoring in the 12^th minute of play, as midfielder Walker Davey headed in a corner kick from Ted Cargill.

In the 65^th minute, Syracuse found a way back in the match after Jonathan Murphy tripped Opoku inside the box for a penalty. Junior midfielder Jeorgio Kocevski leveled the score at one with a successful penalty.

Syracuse outshot the visitors 18-8 over the 90 minutes, as a goalkeeper Russell Shealy recorded one save.

SCOUTING THE TAR HEELS:

North Carolina is 8-4-5 on the season with a 2-2-4 record in conference play. The Tar…