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In its last game against NC State, Syracuse showed its first signs of life in Atlantic Coast Conference play. The Orange tied the Wolfpack 1-1, fueled by a penalty kick goal from Erin Flurey.

After seven straight losses to open conference play, this seemed like the spark SU needed. Thursday looked to be another chance to potentially notch points against Miami, which, along with Syracuse, hadn’t won an ACC game. However, the Orange’s momentum quickly stalled.

Syracuse (6-9-2, 0-8-1 ACC) surrendered two goals in the final 12 minutes, falling 3-1 to Miami (5-6-4, 1-4-3 ACC). Despite nearly going 70 minutes without allowing a second goal, SU’s defense broke down at the end of the match, resulting in its eighth ACC loss of the season.

“The two goals we gave up were not okay,” SU head coach Nicky Thrasher Adams said postgame. “We chose to be lazy on a corner kick … (it’s) super disappointing that we’re allowing other teams to score goals they shouldn’t be scoring.”

In the second minute, Miami’s Kyla Gallagher received a pass on the left side and booted a cross to Giovana Canali. Though Anna Croyle boxed the freshman out, and SU goalkeeper Shea Vanderbosch, back in the lineup after missing SU’s last game, scooped the ball up.

Then, Erin Flurey stole the ball from the Hurricanes and dribbled down the middle of the field. She found an open Ashley Rauch on her right, but the redshirt junior hooked a shot left.

Miami broke through just moments later in the 11th minute. Gallagher stole the ball from SU and passed it to Canali after Kylen Grant fell trying to cut it off. Cierra Collins almost knocked the ball away, but she also slipped, freeing up space for Canali in front of the net.

Vanderbosch charged, but Canali read her like a book, firing a low-driven shot to the keeper’s left for her team-leading ninth goal of the year.

“The first goal (was) super unfortunate with two people slipping, nothing we can do once (Canali) put it away,” Adams said.

Following Canali’s score, Miami got another flurry of scoring opportunities, but couldn’t capitalize.

First, Canali received a long pass, motoring past Collins and forcing a one-on-one with Vanderbosch. This time, the goalie stood strong.

After Hurricanes keeper Claireese Foley made her only save of the night, she booted a long ball to Jessica Kaye. Kaye zoomed past Ava Uribe and attempted a cross, but SU’s backline blocked it.

Soon after, the Hurricanes forced their first corner kick. But it was knocked away, and Vanderbosch snared the ensuing attempt.

In the last 15 minutes of the half, neither team got a good look at goal. But immediately after the break, Miami’s Moira Flynn found open grass on the right side, sending a cross to Canali. She looked to be on a collision course for Vanderbosch, but Collins came hurtling in to make a clean tackle.

In the 54th minute, Vanderbosch thwarted Canali again. This time, the freshman got free in front of the goal, sending a screamer to the right corner. But Vanderbosch punched the ball back into play.

SU finally got its first chances of the half soon after. Flurey threaded a pass to Rauch, who moved past two defenders. But Rauch’s left-footed shot floated right to Foley.

Nine minutes later, Maya McDermott tried to juke out a defender, and was fouled by the Hurricanes. Though SU’s ensuing free kick didn’t amount to anything as Miami easily sniffed it out.

On the counterattack, Flynn tried another cross from the right corner. She connected with Canali, who looked to have a wide-open goal. But Vanderbosch leaped to her right, twisted mid-air and caught the strike cleanly.

“I predicted (Flynn) wasn’t gonna shoot it,” Vanderbosch said postgame. “I saw (Canali) coming across, tried to cross with my feet, set them, and I was there.”

This finally sparked Syracuse’s offense. Anna Rupert sent a pass through two defenders to Rauch. The striker was tripped by an incoming Tori Grambo but stayed with the play. Rauch saw an opening in the right corner, firing a shot out of reach of Foley to knot the game at 1-1.

Though Syracuse’s momentum didn’t last long. Just 11 minutes after Rauch’s goal, Miami retook the lead on back-to-back goals.

First, in the 78th minute, Canali passed the ball to Adrianna Serna, who dribbled down the right side. She tried a cross, but Croyle headed it away. The ball bounced directly to Gisselle Kozarski, who one-touched the ball past Vanderbosch to untie the score.

Immediately after, Miami forced a corner kick. Though Syracuse cleared the ball initially, it ended up with Grace Hurren. Hurren’s shot was blocked by Iba Oching, but off the deflection, Hallie Salas made it 3-1 after she lofted the ball into the net.

With 10 minutes left in the game, the Orange tried furiously to cut into Miami’s lead, but could only muster one shot. SU’s loss marked the sixth ACC contest where it gave up three or more goals, which Vanderbosch took responsibility for postgame.

“We defended a lot of the game, and I think we held it down for the majority, but at the end of the day, it’s my job to keep the ball out of the back of the net,” Vanderbosch said.

Published on October 24, 2024 at 11:32 pm

Contact Noah: njnussba@syr.edu