Freshman Iozzi scores 1st career goal on fluke cross
It was a moment Maddie Iozzi will never forget, but it’s also one she didn’t think would happen.
The freshman defender scored the first goal of her collegiate career, and the first for the Orange (4-2) in the 22nd minute of Thursday’s 2-1 win over Fairleigh Dickinson (2-3). And the goal came completely by mistake.
“I was going for the cross, trying to bend it in behind,” Iozzi said. “But it was kind of more of a driven ball and it got the back post, so it worked out.”
Iozzi sparked an otherwise stagnant Syracuse offense when her shot ricocheted off the right post, then the goalkeeper and into the net.
But the scorekeeper was initially unsure who scored the goal. It wasn’t until the start of the second half that the officials finally credited the goal to her.
“I guess it hit off of the goalie’s hands, so they weren’t really sure who got the goal,” Iozzi said. “But then they announced it. I wasn’t really expecting it, but I was like, ‘OK.’”
The shot was the first of the season for the fullback. Her only other point came on an assist in a win over Albany on Aug. 30. Her position often finds itself on the attack when the ball is on the offensive side of the field.
Syracuse head coach Phil Wheddon said Iozzi’s positioning was nothing out of the ordinary. In fact, he’d like to see her do it more.
“As an outside back, you’ve got to be able to get forward in the game,” Wheddon said. “She’s starting to do that more and more. She was reluctant to go forward when she first started, but now she’s getting forward.”
Everything is starting to point in the right direction for Iozzi, who was named “Woman of the Match” after the game.
Iozzi has started in every game so far for the Orange, and Wheddon thinks that once she gains more experience, she could become a staple of the SU defense.
“We’d like her to be more technical, better on the ball, make more simple decisions, but so far she’s done very well,” Wheddon said. “Maddie could be someone who develops into a regular starter and a consistent performer.”
The Canadian has already made her mark on a team that’s off to its best start since 2003. She’s played 94 percent of the team’s minutes, including the entirety of Thursday’s matchup. And with her goal, she finally has a tangible statistic to show for it.
“It kind of took me off guard, but it was awesome,” Iozzi said. “I’ve got one already, hopefully I’ll get a few more.”
