Syracuse wastes 8 shots on goal in 0-0 nonconference draw versus New Haven
Syracuse defender Chimere Omeze attempts to corral the ball. Despite notching 22 shots, SU was unable to find the net in its scoreless draw to New Haven. Avery Magee | Asst. Photo Editor
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A win against New Haven on Monday Night would have made Syracuse’s Ian McIntyre the winningest coach in Syracuse men’s soccer history.
A slim loss to Duquesne on Friday delayed the celebration. On paper, a newly inaugurated Division I opponent in New Haven shouldn’t have presented a challenge to Syracuse.
On the other hand, the Orange had not tallied more than one goal in a single match entering Monday, while New Haven entered undefeated in three away matches against Monmouth, Providence and Dartmouth. The Chargers had every intention of not going down without a fight.
On the precipice of history, Syracuse (2-2-2, 0-0 Atlantic Coast) didn’t have enough to nick a win against New Haven (2-0-2, 0-0 Northeast Conference). Despite recording three clean sheets in their first six games, the Orange still have not secured a home victory and have only scored three goals ahead of their ACC opener against No. 1 Stanford Saturday.
“This is why our game can be so painful at times,” McIntyre said about SU’s lack of quality.
Within the first 15 minutes, Syracuse had already created more clear cut opportunities than it had in 90 minutes against Duquesne. A loose touch by Jacopo Suagher gave Bright Nutornutsi the chance to send Michael Acquah in the clear, and he did so with aplomb. Chargers defender Marc Jourdain infringed, and referee John Rush pointed to the spot.
“Our game plan was catching them out on the counterattack and hitting it in behind,” Acquah said.
One of the brightest spots for the Orange entering Monday, Sachiel Ming, stepped up to give SU an advantage. His penalty shot was at a comfortable height for New Haven goalkeeper Alessandro Bizzini, who guessed correctly and kept Syracuse off the board.
The pressure continued as SU broke through New Haven’s defense. Acquah rose high to meet Ernest Mensah Jr., but his header wasn’t strong enough to trouble Bizzini. A perfectly weighted through ball by Tim Noeding found Acquah, whose low-driven cross was just too far in front for Nutornutsi. And on the byline, Mensah found Nutornutsi, who narrowly pulled his shot wide.
It was chance after chance, repeated pressure the Chargers desperately withstood. But New Haven has been through this before.
It was outshot by nine against Monmouth, but totaled seven blocks to the Hawks’ zero. Four days later in Rhode Island, Providence had 21 shots to New Haven’s five. However, 80% of New Haven’s shots, one of which was a overhead kick from forward Lukian Lawro, were on target. Providence’s percentage was just over 25%.
SU outshot New Haven 11-1 in the first half on Monday. It was the same broken record for the Orange. If given the opportunity, New Haven could’ve turned the game on its head.
But through the first 20 minutes, neither team had its golden chance. SU’s shot total increased to 17, while New Haven’s remained at one.
Right in front of Tomas Hut, Lawro had a chance to give New Haven against the run of play, but Chimere Omeze’s slide tackle kept proceedings notched at zero.
Moments after coming onto the pitch, Emanuel Cappello couldn’t connect cleanly after Ming ran in behind and delivered a cross into the box.
Omeze’s curler into the six-yard box evaded all Syracuse players, and soon after, pinball ensued in the Chargers’ six-yard box before a foul was called on Carlos Zambrano.
Later, Omeze’s delicate chip found the head of Mensah, who couldn’t guide it home.
With just minutes to spare, Nathan Scott’s wayward pass to Ming summed up the Orange’s night.
“I don’t think we made life as uncomfortable for them as we should have,” McIntyre said.
Nothing was going Syracuse’s way, and the Chargers had significantly limited Syracuse’s chances for a first home victory. A final throw of the dice came from Hut’s hoof up the field, which Zambrano impressively took down but Bizzini grabbed it to keep the Chargers undefeated.
History for McIntyre remains locked away. It was a game of almosts, ifs, buts and maybes. Yet, the only absolute certainty entering conference play Saturday is that SU is commanding at the back, but hasn’t found the key to fully unlock its attack.
“We will own this because we didn’t score. We missed a penalty. Hit the post. Had a number of chances. This is one that’s got away from us,” McIntyre said. “Our performance merited a result. Unfortunately, our quality didn’t, so we own that.”
