Orange Host Catamounts in NCAA Quarterfinals

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – No. 3 seed Syracuse men’s soccer hosts Vermont on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. with a spot in the 2022 NCAA College Cup on the line. The Orange make their second appearance in the NCAA Championship Quarterfinals, as Ben Polk’s goal in the 79^th minute beat Boston College in 2015, sending ‘Cuse to the College Cup for the first time.

Tickets for this Elite Eight contest start at $10 for the general public, $5 for senior citizens and youth ages 18 & under and free for the first 500 Syracuse students with a valid Syracuse ID. Gates open at the SU Soccer Stadium at 1 p.m. Fans can also catch all the action live on ESPN+.

ORANGE UPDATE:

Syracuse is 16-2-4 on the season, one victory shy of tying the program’s single-season wins record. The 1982 BIG EAST Champions set the record with 17 wins. ‘Cuse is one of three Atlantic Coast Conference teams remaining in the tournament, joining No. 7 seed Duke and Pittsburgh.

The Orange advanced to the Elite Eight after a thrilling 1-0 win against No. 14 seed Cornell in the Sweet 16. In the 83^rd minute of action, sophomore forward Giona Leibold put Syracuse ahead with his fifth goal of the season. Redshirt-senior goalkeeper Russell Shealy was credited with the assist, as Syracuse’s defense held Cornell to just two shots on target.

Shealy has been a pivotal player for the Orange in their postseason run. The Cartersville, Georgia native ranks second in the ACC in clean sheets (10), save percentage (.829), goals against average (0.61) and third in saves (63). Shealy is also the first Syracuse goalkeeper to record a point since Robert Cavicchia in 2008.

Defenders Abdi Salim, Buster Sjoberg, Christian Curti, and Olu Oyegunle have anchored one of the best defensive units in head coach Ian McIntyre‘s tenure. The Orange have allowed just 13 goals this season, the least since 2016. Syracuse have also kept 11 clean sheets, second in the ACC and most since 2016.

Senior Levonte Johnson and sophomore Nathan Opoku are one of the best attacking duos in the tournament field. The two forwards have combined for 18 goals, 11 assists and 47 points on their way to All-ACC First Team honors. They are the highest scoring Syracuse duo since Ryan Raposo and Massimo Ferrin combined for 60…