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Four days ago, Syracuse was shocked by cross-town Le Moyne, as it fell 1-0. Against the Dolphins, a program in just their second season in Division I, the Orange suffered their first loss of the 2024 season and were shut out for the first time.

The loss stemmed from shooting inaccuracy, as SU landed just eight of 28 shots on goal. Even with set-piece chances late in the contest, Syracuse failed to convert.

In SU’s first opportunity to bounce back, it wasted no time to find the back of the net. Just 43 seconds into the game, BC’s Marc Boye whiffed on a kick and Michael Acquah took control of the ball along the right sideline in Eagles’ territory. Acquah delivered a cross to the middle of the 18-yard box and Gabe Threadgold cleaned it up with a one-timer to give SU a 1-0 lead.

After the early score, Boston College (2-0-3, 0-0-1 ACC) equalized in the 22nd minute, as No. 20 Syracuse (2-1-2, 0-0-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) drew a 1-1 tie in its first conference game of the season. The Orange were quieted to just two more shots on goal in the final 89 minutes and extended their winless streak against BC to seven games, not winning since 2016.

SU head coach Ian McIntyre slotted Ben Rosenblatt and Braedon Smith into the starting lineup for the first time this season. Smith impressed McIntyre against Le Moyne and led Syracuse’s fast attack early on.

In the fifth minute, the Eagles applied pressure as Michael Asare shot from the right side. Goalkeeper Tomas Hut read the shot and jumped to knock the ball over the net.

Syracuse created chances to add to its lead, but heavy touches led to wasted opportunities. In the 14th minute, Acquah made space on the right side and served a cross into the box, but it sailed past the goal and out of bounds. Two minutes later, the Orange were awarded a free kick and Nathan Scott fed to the back post, but no one was there to put it into the net.

Both teams battled for sustained possession in the midfield, when BC created a chance in the 22nd minute. Leo Guarino was marked by two Syracuse defenders on the right sideline and made a move to split the defense and dribble into the 18-yard box. With separation, Guarino dropped a pass to Asare, who slotted it past Hut from short range to even the match at 1-1.

Ten minutes later on the other end of the field, SU’s leading goal scorer Nicholas Kaloukian looked to push the Orange in front. While marked by multiple Eagles defenders along the goal line, he found Elton Chifamba at the top of the box with space. Chifamba ripped a shot toward the net, but before it could reach the goal, a BC defender stepped in to deflect it away.

Off set pieces late in the first half, each team came close to finishing headers, but both missed wide or high. Through 45 minutes, the Orange led in shots 9-8 and went to halftime with BC tied 1-1.

Syracuse controlled possession to start the second half, but failed to manage a shot. An offside call in the 55th minute and a handball four minutes later spoiled multiple chances.

The Eagles’ Bryan Toro ignited the BC offense with its first shots of the half. In the 63rd minute, Toro created space at the top of the box and fired the ball toward the net, but the ball ricocheted off the face of Sam Layton to keep the game tied.

Boston College received two corners in the ensuing minutes, but SU thwarted both chances. The Orange took the ball down the other way and set up their most promising sequence of the half.

Sachiel Ming and Kaloukian executed a give-and-go to set Ming up on the goal line. He delivered a quick cross inside to the six-yard box and Smith sent a shot on goal. But Eagles goalkeeper Brennan Klein swallowed it up. The shot was SU’s final on-goal of the night.

Syracuse set up a corner in the 71st minute, but Chimere Omeze’s header traveled wide. As SU failed to find offense, Hut stepped up with saves late. Eagles Ask Ekeland ripped a shot from the top of the box in the 75th minute, and Hut jumped in front.

In crunch time, BC pushed for a goal late and Hut again answered the call. Asare received a pass inside the box and Hut sprung from the goal line out to the six-yard line for a sliding stop. The Eagles served a pass into the box in the 90th minute and Hut climbed the ladder to punch it over the crossbar.

Hut tallied a season-high five saves and kept BC off the scoreboard late as the Orange tied the Eagles 1-1 for the third-straight matchup.

Published on September 6, 2024 at 11:20 pm

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