Photo by Cuse.com
Syracuse, N.Y-
Playing the closing game of the regular season on Senior Night at Halloween with a berth in ACC tournament secured was already special, but a win in double overtime added more drama.
“Sometimes the senior nights can be tough on your team.” head coach Ian McIntyre said.“Because there is a lot of swirling stuff going on off the field, swirling emotions that you cannot control. But (I am) very proud of that we find a way to win tonight.”
Asked to evaluate his team’s performance from one to 10 scale, McIntyre’s answer was “15.”
Orange dominates but not enough to win in regulation
Syracuse started to attack right after the starting whistle.
Orange sophomore forward Chris Nanco took the first shot of the game in the eighth minute, but his shot from midfielder Julian Buescher's deep cross was wide of the net. Nanco’s second shot one minute later in the box was blocked by an Eagle defender, giving the Orange the first corner kick in the game. Jordan Murrell took it but his delivery was punched away by Eagle goalie Alex Kapp to the end line.
It was the Eagles who took the lead.
Diego Medina-Mendez’s goal put BC on the board in the 11th minute.What looked like an attempted pass outside the box wound up rolling untouched into the net.
Trailing by one, Syracuse pressured Boston College, with Nanco being a huge threat but not connecting. He beat Eagles defenders with his speed multiple times. He intercepted a cross from Eagles goalie Kapp outside the box but his shot was blocked by a defender.
In the 25th minute, Nick Perea took control of the ball in the box from Oyvind Alseth’s corner kick but his shot hit the post. Three minutes later, Alseth drew a foul in the box. Perea, the go-to penalty-kicker, made the penalty kick, as he has done three times this season.Both teams had opportunities but failed to change the score in the first half. The Orange outshot BC in the period, 5 -3.
The Orange intensified its offense in the second half, taking seven more shots.
Another speedy Orange forward Alex Halis beat the defenders, with his dribble but his deep shot in the right side of the box was rejected by Kapp in the 58th minute. Forward Emil Ekblom’s strong header from Korab Syla’s delivery tested Kapp in the 71st minute, forcing the goalie to make a diving save. Two minutes later, Halis launched another shot in the box but it was again denied by Kapp.
The Eagles had their best opportunity in the 85th minute when midfielder Zeiko Lewis’s shot failed to beat Orange goalie Alex Bono's diving save. Bono's only save in the second half ensured the tie score before overtime.
Sudden victory in double-overtime
Going into overtime, it seemed that the Orange had momentum and a good chance to end the game quickly. It did not turn out that way.
Halis fired a shot in the box but it hit the post. Syla’s blast went high off the bar. Midfielder Juuso Pasanen header from a corner kick went right into Kapp’s arms. Within 35 seconds left in the first overtime, Nanco unleashed a shot but it was wide of the net.
The Eagles had a golden opportunity in the 101st minute. A cross from the left side went past the Syracuse defenders and Eagles junior Dylan Pritchard faced a wide open net. However, he sent the ball inches wide of the far post.
The game-winner finally came in the 103rd minute. After Kapp turned away Halis’ shot, he could do nothing to Thomas' rebound shot in the box. Thomas’ third goal of the season gave the Orange a victory in the last game of the season in front of a crowd of 1,672.
“I can’t remember much but the ball was crossed in,” Thomas said.“I think it came down on my foot and I just hit it and it went in....It was an excellent night. I couldn’t ask for much more.”
Last game of season, but not the end of year.
The Orange had already clinched a berth in ACC tournament before the game and it is very likely that No. 3 ranked Syracuse will be invited to NCAA tournament.
(Note: the Orange was voted No.1 in the poll that came out several days November 4.)
For the players, it will be the first appearance in ACC tournament since coming to the conference last year.
Thomas said he felt good about having more games to play.
“I have been here for four years.” Thomas said. “I never have played my last game at the season knowing that we are going to go to post-season. So it’s a good feeling.”
“It’s a great feeling that we keep going and prolong our season as long as possible,” Perea echoed. “And hopefully we can keep playing until December.”
Before the game, nine Orange seniors were honored for their contributions to the team.
“I refer to them as the cultural architects of our program,” McIntyre said. “They set the standard, they lead by example and as they mature they become more vocal leaders as well. It’s great from a coaching perspective to see these seniors create their own memories.
"But what I did say to the group is October memories are wonderful but there’s nothing better than creating November memories.”
“I have been here for four years.” Thomas said. “I never have played my last game at the season knowing that we are going to go to post-season. So it’s a good feeling.”
“It’s a great feeling that we keep going and prolong our season as long as possible,” Perea echoed. “And hopefully we can keep playing until December.”
Before the game, nine Orange seniors were honored for their contributions to the team.
“I refer to them as the cultural architects of our program,” McIntyre said. “They set the standard, they lead by example and as they mature they become more vocal leaders as well. It’s great from a coaching perspective to see these seniors create their own memories.
"But what I did say to the group is October memories are wonderful but there’s nothing better than creating November memories.”
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