WSOC : SU held scoreless for 4th straight game in home defeat to Marquette
Tension spread across the face of head coach Phil Wheddon as he tried to answer the same questions to yet another Syracuse women’s soccer loss. Another shutout, eerily similar to Friday night’s contest against South Florida, created more frustrations and disappointment among the Orange.
The Orange (4-7-2, 1-4-1 Big East) failed to score a goal in a 1-0 loss to Marquette (9-4-2, 5-1-1) Sunday afternoon at SU Soccer Stadium. The Orange’s fourth straight shutout and second home loss in a row added to the aggravation that has built up during the past few weeks.
‘I’m hoping we can curb that frustration,’ Wheddon said. ‘Anytime you get frustrated, you tend to try harder, and I don’t think it’s a case of us trying harder. We’re creating opportunities; I think it’s a case of us being more composed.’
The Orange tried to maintain composure after the Big East American Division leading Golden Eagles scored in the 28th minute of the game. Forward/midfielder Brittany Bares passed the ball to forward Ashley Bares, who found the back of the net for the only goal of the game.
Syracuse kept the pressure on the Golden Eagles, aiming to prevent the game from getting out of hand – a problem that has plagued SU in its recent stretch of games.
‘Our mood didn’t change at all,’ said junior midfielder Sara Grimsgaard. ‘We picked it up after the goal and went on attack more.’
As Syracuse continued to miss scoring opportunities, its irritation mounted. It culminated when senior forward Amanda Arcuri received a red card in the 63rd minute after she got physical with a Marquette defender. Arcuri turned to argue with the referee and was subsequently ejected from the game. The teams combined to commit 24 fouls.
‘Everyone realized we all need to step up and fill in her spot,’ Grimsgaard said. ‘Sometimes people get frustrated. It’s been a long year, so we all just stepped up as a team staying compact to limit the space on the field.’
Wheddon credited the team for not letting Arcuri’s red card add to its frustrations.
While the Orange played the remainder of the game with one fewer forward, Wheddon noticed a more physical game with passion from the players. He tried to balance the lack of offense in losing Arcuri by substituting redshirt freshman forward Kaitlin Robbins to play alongside the team-leading goal-scorer Megan Bellingham.
Marquette kept the game’s pace high, keeping the ball on the Syracuse side most of the contest and leaving fewer goal-scoring opportunities for Bellingham. Wheddon said the scouting reports on the Golden Eagles was that they would have little time on the ball, but Bellingham took advantage of those opportunities with four shots, three on goal and aggressively fought Marquette defenders near the post, even with the lack of a third forward.
‘We didn’t have as many opportunities going forward as we normally do,’ Bellingham said. ‘We needed to get refocused and reorganized, which I think we did a pretty good job of doing. I think we’re getting better as far as not letting goals affect our mental mindset.’
The lack of scoring opportunities on Marquette only increased the aggravation the Orange. Syracuse has gone more than 377 minutes since last scoring a goal. Communication and composure are areas the Orange needs to strengthen and reasons Wheddon attributed to the team’s skid.
Heading into Tuesday’s game at Georgetown, a rescheduled game from Oct. 3, the Orange will have added incentive from the weekend series and hopes to pull off its first road win.
‘These next few games it’s going to be very important that we are composed,’ Wheddon said. ‘Often if you try harder, you kick the ball harder, you swing harder and there’s less control. I want our players to be in control.’
