The Syracuse women’s soccer team has had to look at a zero on the scoreboard after 45 minutes all too often this season. But when it comes to the second half, the Orange has thrived.

Sunday was no different.

After struggling to find chances early in the game, the Orange exploded in the second half, scoring four goals to defeat Binghamton 4-0.

‘Sometimes it takes us a little while to get into the game and get our rhythm, but once we get our rhythm, I think we move the ball quite well,’ SU head coach Phil Wheddon said. ‘Whether we’re a first-half team or a second-half team, I’m just happy we’re coming away with a win.’

Syracuse had scored six of its seven season goals in the second half entering Sunday’s game. After only taking four shots in the first half, the Orange returned to what it has done best.

The trend continued. The Orange scored four goals in the second half, dominating the Bearcats in nearly every facet of the game.

SU players recognize the vast majority of its goals come toward the end of games. It has yielded results, but it’s something the Orange still wants to change.

‘That’s what we’ve been hearing frequently, that we’re a second-half team, and we’re trying to change that,’ sophomore forward Brielle Heitman said. ‘We’re trying to start off forceful and hard, and come out like we do in the second half.’

Heitman scored her third and fourth goals of the season in the second half. She found the back of the net in the 69th minute on a rebound off a cross from Casey Ramirez. She later scored on a header from Rosina Callisto.

Heitman used a two-goal second half against Colgate earlier in the season to clinch a victory for the Orange. She has played a direct role in the trend.

‘When I go in there, I just want to make a difference,’ Heitman said. ‘When I go in, I want to bring the team up and I want to make a difference and possibly score goals for them and bring up the attitude.’

Binghamton frustrated the Orange early on, forcing SU into an array of bad shots. Syracuse didn’t have a quality chance at goal until the 55th minute, when Jenna Rickan headed the ball just wide of goal.

Binghamton controlled play for much of the first half, forcing turnovers and keeping SU away from its net. Wheddon knew changes had to be made, and the team came out hungry in the second half.

‘As you saw today, they imposed their will on us, they played very direct,’ Wheddon said. ‘Every ball was a long ball. We weren’t able to get our composure.’

Chances were few and far between in the first half. But the Orange returned to normalcy in the second half, outshooting Binghamton and owning the possession battle.

But Wheddon knows his team will have to improve in the first half if it wishes to succeed in the long term. One good half won’t cut it against Big East competition.

‘Our goal is to start with that rhythm, not wait until the second half,’ Wheddon said. ‘Against Big East teams like Notre Dame, we can’t wait 45 minutes to find our rhythm. We have to be there from the first whistle.’

Sophomore midfielder Tina Romagnuolo has scored all of her goals in the second half of games this season. To Romagnuolo, the Orange needs to have its second-half mentality throughout the entirety of the game. Then, SU can thrive for more than just a half.

‘I think with the first half, we just think we have the whole game to get a win,’ Romagnuolo said. ‘When it comes down to the second half, we all just come together and try harder.’

adtredin@syr.edu

 

Published on September 12, 2010 at 12:00 pm