Syracuse women’s soccer ties Harvard 0-0 in stalemate
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Syracuse’s offense has been inconsistent to start 2026. It’s shown flashes of brilliance, scoring three goals against Princeton and Holy Cross, but has also had duds. SU didn’t score against Villanova and had just one late goal against Northwestern.
On Thursday against Niagara, the Orange had numerous scoring opportunities but couldn’t capitalize. Syracuse outshot the Purple Eagles 12-7 and had four corner kicks to their one yet fell 2-1.
Harvard, SU’s opponent Sunday, had been up and down defensively. It allowed four goals in a loss to UMass and two against Stony Brook but shut out Fairfield 4-0 Thursday.
Still, Sunday was arguably Syracuse’s best chance to break out offensively before its conference slate begins Sept. 13. The Orange scored just five times in 10 Atlantic Coast Conference games in 2025, meaning it was practically now or never for their offense to step up.
Yet just like Thursday, SU’s attack fell flat Sunday. Syracuse (3-1-2, 0-0-0 ACC) tied Harvard (1-2-1, 0-0-0 Ivy) 0-0 in its penultimate nonconference match behind dormant offense and stellar defense. SU goalie Maya Naimoli shined with five saves, and its 4-5-1 defensive formation was successful, but it was blanked for the second time in 2026.
“Really proud to rebound against such a talented Harvard team,” Syracuse head coach Nicky Thrasher Adams said. “(Harvard’s) very good, NCAA Tournament, great players, and I was really proud of my group for sticking to the game plan and getting forward. I thought our attack was much better than Thursday.”
Thrasher Adams would agree Syracuse’s offensive showing Thursday was a letdown. But one positive from the loss was Moo Galbus, who scored her first-career goal with under two minutes remaining.
Her reward? Her first start of the season.
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Syracuse suffers 2-1 defeat to Niagara for 1st loss of season
Syracuse suffered its first loss of the 2026 season Thursday, falling 2-1 to Niagara. SU played nearly 80 minutes of perfect defense after an early blunder but couldn’t retaliate late.
With hopes of sparking the Orange’s offense, Thrasher Adams started Galbus over Ali Howard in SU’s lone forward spot. Despite not scoring, Galbus’ presence helped Syracuse control possession early.
Courtesy of Galbus’ speed, SU pushed the ball in transition four minutes in, setting up a corner. Vickie Jones, Syracuse’s leading scorer with three goals, misfired left.
Five minutes later, Jones had another chance on a header, but it was saved by Harvard goalie Nicole Bidun. Bidun played the first half for the Crimson before Olivia Busby replaced her after halftime.
In the 22nd minute, Harvard had a prime scoring chance as Anna Rayhill dribbled past SU and rifled a shot. Her attempt was wide, keeping the game scoreless.
After playing 86 minutes in SU’s season opener against Villanova and 62 against Holy Cross on Aug. 16, Farrah Stephens-Martin’s minutes have decreased. The UConn transfer played just 40 minutes against Northwestern and didn’t enter against Niagara.
Despite playing just 34 minutes Sunday, Stephens-Martin nearly broke the ice late in the first half. Howard shrugged off multiple Crimson defenders before giving the ball to Stephens-Martin, whose shot sailed wide right to cap another wasted possession.
Even with Syracuse’s offensive woes, Naimoli was nearly flawless in net. Harvard’s fast-paced attack, which dominated Fairfield Thursday, didn’t faze her.
Gliding through SU defenders, Harvard’s Brooke Huleatt fired a bullet at Naimoli. But just like she’s been all season, the Youngstown State transfer was well-prepared, easily making the save.
Naimoli spearheaded the effort, but the Orange’s defense was exceptional Sunday. The Crimson attempted 18 shots, but SU’s 4-5-1 formation, which it switched to against Northwestern, stifled them.
Thrasher Adams said postgame Syracuse spent time in practice this week focusing on Harvard’s interchange rotations offensively. She said SU worked on keeping a net around its backline and preventing any opposing damage.
The plan worked. The bad news was that whatever Syracuse practiced offensively didn’t.
Later in the second half, Julia Arbelaez drew a Harvard penalty, as Crimson defender Erin Gordon was handed a yellow card for unsporting. But Gabby Wisbeck’s free kick sailed low.
In addition to Jones, sophomore Abby Incorvaia has been a heartbeat of SU’s offense this season. After playing sparingly as a freshman, she had two goals in five games entering Sunday.
With under 12 minutes remaining, Incorvaia laced a shot on goal, doing anything to ignite the Orange’s attack. Arbelaez almost knocked in the rebound but was tackled. Syracuse had an ensuing corner kick, but it didn’t amount to anything.
In a last-gasp effort, SU won a penalty kick in the box with 95 seconds left. Jones went to her right, trying to beat Busby, but the goalie read her perfectly, making the save. Still, Thrasher Adams trusted the graduate student to break the tie.
“There’s a reason I put (Vickie) on,” Thrasher Adams said. “Vickie is one of the most mature players on the team. She’s a grad student, and I knew she could handle that type of pressure. She hit it well. She hit the frame. Goalkeeper made a good save.”
Syracuse was probably closer to winning Sunday than Thursday. But a constant on both days was missed opportunities – something it can’t afford in ACC play.
“Really proud of the professionalism, courage and responsibility these players played with,” Thrasher Adams said.
