What Syracuse did to beat Notre Dame — and how it can carry over to rest of 2026
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The reasons for Syracuse men’s soccer’s two Atlantic Coast Conference defeats are easy to trace. Against then-No. 18 Clemson, it lacked the attacking quality to reward a stern defensive display against one of the best teams in the country. Eight days later against Boston College, defensive mishaps spoiled a rather good offensive performance that saw Syracuse have 19 shots to BC’s eight.
However, two multi-goal, clean-sheet nonconference victories against Colgate and Le Moyne — adding to its shutout wins over Loyola, Iona and St. John’s — gave SU the “good run” freshman defender Gabriel Oksanen said it needed before its most difficult stretch.
Then-No. 10 Notre Dame, fresh off defeating then-No. 1 Stanford in a 3-1 thriller, presented the Orange a big hill to climb. But after 90 minutes in South Bend on Friday night, Syracuse (7-3, 1-2 ACC) scaled it in a 1-0 win — its first 2026 ACC triumph and first at Notre Dame since 2015.
“Perhaps we haven’t put together a 90-minute performance and it wasn’t perfect, but it was a good performance on the road,” Syracuse head coach Ian McIntyre said.
That kind of performance and result could be a blueprint for the season, as SU faces three ranked teams, including No. 10 Pittsburgh at SU Soccer Stadium on Friday.
Here are three reasons why Syracuse defeated Notre Dame and how that win could spur a positive end to the regular season:
Trusting a new keeper
After Syracuse beat Le Moyne on Sept. 19, McIntyre was asked whether Juan Martinez-Bastidas was SU’s first-choice starting goalkeeper over Kyle Jansen.
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Martinez-Bastidas had just played back-to-back matches for the first time with Syracuse, earning his fourth clean sheet in as many matches. Since debuting against Iona on Aug. 31, “Big Juan” has filled in for Jansen in nonconference matches.
That was the plan for Jansen, who backed up Tomas Hut last year. But a combination of SU’s seven scoreless or one-goal nonconference matches and Hut’s stellar form limited Jansen’s involvement.
McIntyre has made sure Martinez-Bastidas received the experience Jansen, who started SU’s first three nonconference matches, was supposed to have last year.
He opted for Jansen against Clemson and Boston College, when he couldn’t stop the Tigers from scoring and was poor on both Eagles goals. But against Notre Dame, Martinez-Bastidas was between the sticks.
“We’ll go game to game, but certainly Juan’s done everything that he’s been asked of,” McIntyre said. “We’ve got a very strong goalkeeper unit.”
He didn’t have much to do in South Bend, but when called on, Martinez-Bastidas was excellent. He diverted Tristan Tropeano’s attempt inside the six-yard box back off the forward and out for a goal kick. Then, after Syracuse went in front late in the second half and the Orange defended in what seemed like a back six, Martinez-Bastidas rose to corral Notre Dame’s last heave to secure a win.
Martinez-Bastidas hasn’t conceded a goal while in net for Syracuse. That makes McIntyre’s decision on who to start harder, but it’s “a good problem” before the crux of the season.
Using dead balls to its advantage
Any team with four Olimpicos in less than two seasons is adept in dead-ball situations. Add multiple goals and high-quality chances from free kicks, penalties and long throw-ins, and you’ll see Syracuse’s goal-scoring threat extends beyond open play.
This season, the Orange have scored nine dead-ball goals — six from corners. And against the Fighting Irish, Sachiel Ming’s corners to the back post threatened all match.
Chimere Omeze could’ve easily scored inside five minutes after his effort was pushed onto the crossbar by goalkeeper Blake Kelly. In the 21st minute, Ming went short to Badr Laghjibi, who played a season-high 73 minutes Friday, and found Omeze wide open in the six-yard box again. But his header went over the bar.
All match, the Orange either won the first ball and went for goal or recycled it. It’s how Omeze scored his worldie against Colgate and how Ivan Irinimbabazi scored his first Syracuse goal.
Syracuse midfielder Kristjan Fortier takes a touch during Friday’s 1-0 win at then-No. 10 Notre Dame. The junior has started all but one match this season and has scored two goals, tied for third on SU. Courtesy of Notre Dame Athletics
Omeze got free at the back post and diverted his header toward Irinimbabazi, who swiveled and struck the ball into the roof of Notre Dame’s net. It’s SU’s fifth goal by a defender, with Buster Honeywood and Omeze tallying one as well and Oksanen having scored twice. For a team without an out-and-out goalscorer, goals from all facets of play could be a huge asset.
“As good as we were, it came down to a set piece,” McIntyre said. “To win games on set pieces can be the thin margin at our level.”
Adding another tempo setter in midfield
The Orange boast many central defensive midfielders.
Kelvin Da Costa, an ACC Preseason Watch List member, has totaled nearly 30 appearances and 1,900 minutes for SU over three seasons. Nathan Scott’s been steady since transferring from UC Riverside for 2024. Kristjan Fortier, who has started all but one match and scored twice from midfield, is one of SU’s more impressive players this year.
But Jackson Miller, a graduate transfer from Cal Poly, was the standout midfielder Friday. In his first ACC start, Miller logged 78 minutes before cramping up and being replaced by Kameron Kist.
“He’s waited for his opportunity,” McIntyre said of Miller. “His positivity, his energy around the place is infectious, but he’s backed it up with quality on the soccer field.”
Miller was the main connector between the defense and attack against the Fighting Irish. He constantly orchestrated where each pass should go and slid between Garrett Holman and Honeywood while Irinimbabazi pushed forward.
As a result, Syracuse’s speed kept Notre Dame back. SU’s 62% possession, per SofaScore, was its highest in an ACC match this season and is a clear indication the Orange can dominate ranked conference opponents.
