With increased minutes, Badr Laghjibi shines in Syracuse’s win over Loyola
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As Ian McIntyre began walking off SU Soccer Stadium’s pitch Friday, one final question stopped him in his tracks. Luckily for Syracuse’s head coach, the answer was directly in front of him.
McIntyre was asked about a moment he shared with Orange midfielder Badr Laghjibi on SU’s bench in its match against Loyola. Naturally, McIntyre called over his freshman to explain what happened.
“Badr, come over here,” McIntyre shouted to Laghjibi while pointing to the media scrum before him. “I was just asked, when I pulled you off with 17 minutes left, the crowd didn’t want you to leave, and I sat you down; he wants to know what I said.”
“Do you want me to tell him?”
“Yes, sir,” Laghjibi timidly responded as his head coach wrapped his arm around him.
McIntyre deferred the response to Laghjibi. He then interrupted his player to take it back.
“You’re gonna enjoy him. We’re gonna enjoy him. The crowd’s gonna enjoy him. His ceiling is up here,” McIntyre said as he raised his arm above his head. “When you’ve got talent like (Laghjibi), it’s getting the best out of that, and the best to complement the team. I thought he was awesome. The guys want (him) to play more. (He) wants to play more. I want him to play more.”
As McIntyre spoke, Laghjibi couldn’t wipe the smile off his face. For good reason, too. After totaling just 20 minutes in Syracuse’s first two games against UConn and New Hampshire, Laghjibi played 34 and dished two assists Friday against Loyola, sparking the Orange’s (2-1-0, 0-0-0 Atlantic Coast) 2-0 win over the Greyhounds (0-3-0, 0-0-0 Patriot).
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When Laghjibi entered, expectations were low. Not because he wasn’t capable, but because he hadn’t displayed it. After Friday, there’s no denying the Orange acquired a gem in their new midfielder.
“If you ask Badr, he should have played more,” McIntyre said postgame. “But that’s his personality, and he’s confident. He provides us something different.
“The game tonight just needed a little bit of Badr.”
The Orange were dominating offensively before Laghjibi checked in, but they hadn’t capitalized. Then, in the 24th minute, the energy changed. Laghjibi entered for 6-foot-6 Jordan Grey, who’d contributed to three of Syracuse’s four goals before Friday.
McIntyre admitted Grey was a massive addition this year, yet Laghjibi instantly showed he could also provide sparks, despite being SU’s second-shortest player at 5-foot-8.
Having previously trained with MLS’ D.C. United and the Moroccan National Team, Laghjibi made it apparent he’s no stranger to high-level play by outmuscling five taller Loyola defenders. But the NCAA still presents challenges, the most difficult to Laghjibi being “how fast and how intense it is.”
“Look at me, I’m not the biggest guy,” Laghjibi said. “But I understand where to put my body.”
Syracuse midfielder Badr Laghjibi winds up to boot the ball downfield. He played a career-high 34 minutes Friday and assisted two goals in a two-minute span. Tara Deluca | Photo Editor
With just over 11 minutes left in the first half, Laghjibi proved it. Emmanuel Cophy dribbled along the left sideline before finding Laghjibi with a defender on his back at the 18-yard box’s tip.
Laghjibi trapped the pass and popped it up to himself. He directed it to Bryson Rodriguez, who fired a shot off Loyola midfielder Ben Schouten’s cleat into the back of the net to give the Orange a welcome 1-0 lead.
Laghjibi raced to the corner to meet Rodriguez. The two reserves embraced before gravitating toward a group of fans nearby.
“Every time I did some dumb move, the crowd was screaming,” Laghjibi said. “It makes me happy. It’s the game I’ve loved since I was 3 years old.”
Having previously played sparingly, Laghjibi knew he had to keep pressure on. Two minutes later, he comfortably possessed the ball again, dribbling through several Greyhound defenders in the 18-yard box. But it was time to give it up, and he knew it.
So, Laghjibi pushed toward the corner before mule-kicking a pass behind him to fellow freshman Dario White. White took one touch, then blasted a cross to Pedro Gulli, positioned mere feet from Loyola goalkeeper Connor O’Keefe. Gulli rose up and headed the ball over an 6-foot-6 O’Keefe, giving the Orange their 2-0 lead.
“We used our depth today,” McIntyre said. “Subs coming off the bench had an impact.”
“I thought (Laghjibi) was terrific,” SU’s head coach later added. “(He’s a) terrific footballer, and the best soccer is ahead of him.”
What McIntyre said to Laghjibi after pulling him mostly remains between the two.
Laghjibi sulked on the bench moments later, seemingly frustrated with his breakout performance cut short. But whatever McIntyre told him, and whatever the freshman felt, barely mattered in the end.
Laghjibi had his moment Friday. And with it, Syracuse might have discovered something special.
