Kamal Miller joked 20 minutes before Syracuse’s contest against Ohio State. He bounced a ball on his head and bombed it across the field to Len Zeugner who nearly ran into a small wall. Miller doubled over, laughing. It was a sign of a loose team, one that had won two straight games and just toppled the No. 1 squad in the country. It was also a sign of how little SU worried about its opponent: a one-win Ohio State team.

Fast-forward after a nearly perfect two-hour defensive performance, Miller threw his arm around goalkeeper Hendrik Hilpert and laughed again. There wasn’t the same jubilation of three nights ago, but it was another step in the right direction.

Syracuse (6-4-1, 1-3-0 Atlantic Coast) easily disposed of Ohio State (1-9-2, 0-3-1 Big Ten), 3-0, Monday in SU Soccer Stadium. The Orange strung together shutouts for the first time in two years. The Buckeyes were limited to six shots. Hilpert was called upon to save just one. SU focused on itself in the days leading up to the game, Hilpert said. Players reflected on what they could do better instead of worrying about a team that has scored six goals in 12 games.

After conceding nine goals in its first four matches, there were questions concerning the Orange backline. Zeugner, a grad-transfer, hadn’t yet integrated into the 3-5-2, sophomore Sondre Norheim showed signs of regression and Miller was sidelined for a contest with a Grade 1 knee strain. But since an overtime defeat to Virginia Tech on Sept. 28, Syracuse has allowed just two goals in 378 minutes of soccer.

“There’s a belief in ourselves that we have the opportunity to shut out every team,” Miller said. “I feel like we have the talent to do that, especially with this backline.”

SU relied on communication to snuff out OSU’s offense early on. Following a turnover in the first half, Djimon Johnson yelled at Norheim to “be tighter.” A minute later, Johnson blasted a forward in the box and ended the threat. Johnson, a sophomore who’s now earned consistent starting time as a defensive midfielder, has vocalized himself more often, Hilpert said.

Johnson’s presence has allowed two top playmakers for SU — Hugo Delhommelle and Jonathan Hagman — to press higher. The switch has led to more complimentary soccer for the Orange.

In the first half up a goal, Johnson and Miller charged at a defender from two sides. The OSU midfielder looked to the side and saw orange and blue stripes. Johnson tipped the ball to Miller, Miller served it back to Johnson, and SU had a breakaway chance.

A similar play happened before Syracuse’s second goal. Johnson yelled at Julio Fulcar to get back in position. He clapped for emphasis. A few minutes later, Fulcar bodied a Buckeye forward, Delhommelle picked it off and triggered a sequence that ended with a Ryan Raposo goal.

“There’s a belief, there’s an intensity,” Orange head coach Ian McIntyre said. “Tonight, I think we limited a hard-working industrious Ohio State team to a few chances.”

The few chances Ohio State did have were dealt with ease. Late in the first half, as OSU pressed, a free kick found an open forward in front of Syracuse’s penalty box. Miller sprinted over, nudged the striker with his left arm and knocked the ball away. The effort drew a light clap from the crowd.

On an ensuing possession, a loose ball reached OSU’s 6-foot-6 midfielder Michael Prosuk in the penalty box. Hilpert scrambled to the spot and parried it away. On the sidelines, McIntyre put a hand forward and lowered, signaling to his team to calm down. Prosuk ruffled his hair and shook his head.

---

---

The defense didn’t let up in the second half. Norheim picked off passes, Johnson bounced in the midfield and disrupted the “key” to OSU’s offense: Brady Blackwell, Xavier Green and Jake Scheper. Hilpert called the trio of Miller, Johnson and Delhommelle the “minds of the game.”

“As a goalie, I see the whole field,” Hilpert said. “As soon as you play in the midfield or something, you don’t see the whole field anymore and then you need assistance.”

With the result not in doubt, McIntyre dumped out his bench. Jan Breitenmoser, Dylan McDonald and Nathaniel St. Louis all made rare appearances in the second half. But they too maintained the intensity required for a shutout.

Breitenmoser, a senior who’s dealt with injuries this season, completed a slide tackle in the 74th minute that drew a gasp from the crowd. The referee, stating it wasn’t a foul, yelled “Good!” and allowed the game to continue. OSU grew desperate and launched passes upfield. SU was on the tail end of a three-game in nine-day stretch and the fresh legs equalized.

When the final seconds ticked off the clock, a few Ohio State players walked back to the sidelines, heads down. Their bleak offense had run into a red-hot defense and it was another mission accomplished for Syracuse.

“We’re a very talented, cohesive group,” Miller said, before pausing to smile. “It’s all coming together.”

Published on October 8, 2018 at 11:25 pm

Contact Nick: nialvare@syr.edu | @nick_a_alvarez