Syracuse’s offense overpowered by No. 7 FSU’s backline in 4-0 defeat
SU's offense notched a season-low four shots in its 4-0 loss to Florida State Sunday, failing to record a shot on goal after the 34th minute. Leopold Gensler | Contributing Photographer
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Last season, it took Syracuse eight matches to record its first point in conference play. The Orange were plagued by offensive struggles in 2024, scoring just five goals in Atlantic Coast Conference play and conceding 27 scores to their conference foes.
Things appeared to be different this year.
Buoyed by a new-look formation and an attack helmed by former Division II Player of the Year Mia Klammer, the Orange scored 17 goals in nonconference play — just four less than their season total from 2024. It took one game for them to record their first conference point, battling to earn a 1-1 draw in their ACC opener against SMU on Thursday. It was in stark contrast to SU’s conference opener last season, in which it fell 4-1 to the Mustangs.
There were only reasons for optimism for SU heading into its matchup against No. 7 Florida State. The Orange lost 5-1 to the Seminoles in 2024, but in the friendly confines of SU Soccer Stadium, it seemed Syracuse would be able to nick a significantly better result this time around.
But as improved as SU appears to be, there might be no version of the Orange that can find a way to outscore FSU. Syracuse (4-2-4, 0-1-1 Atlantic Coast) fell 4-0 to Florida State (6-0-1, 2-0-0 Atlantic Coast) on Sunday, struggling mightily to create offensive chances against the Seminoles’ backline. The Orange didn’t register a shot on goal until the 34th minute, and they notched season lows with four shots and one shot on goal against FSU.
“We weren’t connecting once we won the ball,” SU head coach Nicky Thrasher Adams said. “We would rather go up and out and then have to defend again.”
Syracuse spent the vast majority of the first half on the defensive end. The Orange didn’t register a shot until the 22nd minute, and they only notched two shots in the period.
Picture it now: It’s the 34th minute, the Orange have finally earned their first corner kick, and senior forward Maya McDermott lines up to send it in.
She boots it into the box, and her service finds the head of Klammer, who aims it at the FSU goal. Seminoles goalkeeper Evan O’Steen traps it, forced to make a save for the first time all game. The crowd briefly exclaims before quieting down, coming ever so close to a lead.
None of them realized it at the moment, but that header would be the final sign of life displayed from Syracuse’s offense.
Florida State’s midfield pressed SU aggressively out of possession, negating its transitional offense and preventing the Orange midfield from linking through to their attackers.
“In transition, I thought we actually were resting instead of getting on our horses and going,” Adams said. “They are very, very good. I will never say that they’re not.”
Even then, Syracuse’s bend-don’t-break playstyle was working successfully. Through 43 minutes, the Orange backline had successfully limited star Seminole attacker Wrianna Hudson, who entered the game with a team-leading six goals.
Whether it was Natalie Magnotta or Bree Bridges on defense, any FSU balls that were played into Hudson were immediately dispatched. She had one shot in the first half, a 15th-minute offering that was sent directly into Shea Vanderbosch’s arms.
Then Solai Washington scored after a throw-in right before the first half came to a close, giving FSU a 1-0 advantage. Everything devolved from there.
Florida State subbed O’Steen out at the half for reserve goalkeeper Kate Ockene. It’s not like it mattered who was in net for the Seminoles. Coming out of the half, Syracuse could not find a way to attack FSU’s defensive structure.
The Orange didn’t find a shot in the second half until Julia Arbelaez skied one over Ockene’s head in the 64th minute. That offering came amid one of Syracuse’s worst 12-minute stretches of the season.
First, Mya Brandon headed a ball past Vanderbosch to make it 2-0 in the 53rd minute. Seven minutes later, Hudson finally got on the board with a tap-in to extend FSU’s advantage to three. In between those scores, Syracuse’s bench was issued a yellow card. The nightmare didn’t end until the 66th minute, when Bridges scored an own goal to cement another four-goal loss for the Orange.
“When you have to defend a lot, you get tired and you get stretched,” Adams said. “Again, that’s on us for not taking care of the ball.”
SU’s fourth, and final, shot came from Julia Coval in the 80th minute. Much like the rest of its shots, it sailed harmlessly over the goal. Syracuse was outshot 21-4 in the contest.
After the Orange’s worst performance of the year, Nicky Thrasher Adams addressed her team, telling them not to act like it was their 10th loss of the season. She was correct — it was just Syracuse’s second loss of the season.
But if SU’s offense continues to look like this against ACC competition, a 10th loss might not be as far as it seems.
