Syracuse, Cornell Meet Again in NCAA Championship Third Round

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – No. 3 seed Syracuse men’s soccer hosts instate rival No. 14 seed Cornell in the third round of the NCAA Championship on Sunday, Nov. 27 at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $10 for the general public, $5 for senior citizens and youth ages 18 & under, and free for the first 200 Syracuse students with a valid SU ID. Fans can also catch the rematch between Syracuse and Cornell on ESPN+.

The Orange appear in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Championship for the fourth time in school history, all under the direction of head coach Ian McIntyre. The last time ‘Cuse played in a third-round match was in 2016, a 1-0 loss against North Carolina.

ORANGE UPDATE:

Syracuse heads into the NCAA Championship Third Round with a 15-2-4 record, the most wins in a season since 2015. The Orange are just one of three Atlantic Coast Conference teams remaining in the bracket. A win against Cornell would be Syracuse’s first Elite Eight appearance since 2015.

NCAA Championship Second Round play opened with Syracuse rallying past Ivy League champion Penn in a 2-1 overtime victory.

After a scoreless first 45 minutes, Penn found the opening goal in the 53^rd minute. Forward Ben Stitz found Nick Schimbeno off a corner kick, as the Orange conceded the opening goal for the first time this postseason.

Down a goal, Syracuse continued to find attacking chances, as the equalizer arrived in the 60th minute. Junior midfielder Jeorgio Kocevksi spotted sophomore forward Nathan Opoku making a run towards goal. The Accra, Ghana native collected the ball and fired a shot past Penn keeper and captain Nick Christoffersen to level the score at one.

After neither side could find a match-winner in regulation, a match went to overtime for a second time this postseason at the SU Soccer Stadium. Just 57 seconds into extra time, sophomore wingback Giona Leibold sent a cross to Levonte Johnson on the back-post. The veteran forward took a touch and converted the chance to send Syracuse to the Sweet 16. 

The Orange outshot the Quakers 23-11 over the 110 minutes, recording eight shots on target. Redshirt senior goalkeeper Russell Shealy finished with three saves, one of them coming in the last minute of action.

 

Shealy leads one of the strongest defensive units in…