More than 25 minutes into the second half, Syracuse was in familiar territory — behind. The Orange faced a two-goal deficit, but unlike its last two games against then-No. 23 North Carolina State and No. 3 North Carolina, a result was within reach. Before it mounted a big comeback, however, it needed a single goal.

With less than 20 minutes remaining, Kate Hostage received the ball on the outskirts of the penalty area, turned, shrugged off Notre Dame’s Camryn Dyke and created space to get off a shot. The sophomore drove it low and at goalkeeper Brooke Littman, who parried it right to Georgia Allen. Allen made no mistake from close range, poking it into the net to bring the Orange within one.

The goal brought hope to Syracuse (3-12, 0-7 Atlantic Coast) but proved insignificant in the end, as Notre Dame (7-8, 3-4) tallied three goals in the final 12 minutes of the game to outlast SU, 5-1, on Saturday night at SU Soccer Stadium. The loss marks the Orange’s 10th straight, extending a program record. SU has not won since Sept. 2.

“It was a fairly tight game,” SU head coach Phil Wheddon said. “Both sides were creating chances, but we were unable to finish the chances we had.”

No players were made available for comment after the loss.

For the third-straight game, Syracuse scored a goal, something it couldn’t do during a four-game stretch from Sept. 16 to 29. In all three games, its goals have been timely. Against NC State, Sydney Brackett found the net in the third minute to give the Orange an early advantage. Against UNC, Meghan Root’s first-half strike brought SU within one. Saturday, Allen’s late goal did the same.

But in each game, Syracuse’s goal has been cancelled by bunches of goals from the opposition. The Wolfpack went on to score five-straight goals in an eventual 6-3 win. The Tar Heels also scored five straight en route to a 7-1 victory. Saturday, the Fighting Irish turned its lead from one to four in less than 15 minutes. Again, the Orange were on the wrong end of a blowout.

“We went into a strict 4-3-3, so we pushed players further up the field,” Wheddon said about what caused Notre Dame’s late goals. “That means you have less players defending. You have to take chances to score goals.”

SU’s sole bright spot in the first half came when Victoria Hill, Root and Allen linked up in the Fighting Irish’s defensive half. Root dribbled the ball down the right wing and found Hill cutting inside, who turned and drove the ball waist-level to Allen at the top of the penalty area. The striker’s deft touch dropped the ball directly to her left before she spun and swung her right foot through it. The strike was pure, but it went straight at Notre Dame goalkeeper Brooke Littman.

Allen’s attempt was one of three Syracuse shots in the first half.

The Orange’s failure to create consistent, dangerous attacks in the first half prompted Wheddon to change his tactics. The 11-year SU head coach shifted from a 4-5-1 to a 4-3-3 to start the second half, pushing the wingers higher up the field and leaving gaps in the midfield.

“We recognized that when we put them under some pressure, they panicked a little bit,” Wheddon said. “We made the decision at half time that we were going to come out and press them.”

For more than 30 minutes, the formation change benefited Syracuse. Substitute Laurel Ness provided width on the left wing and fired two shots during her time on the field — one slow and at the goalkeeper, the other fast and 10 feet over the crossbar. Unlike the first half, much of the play took place in the Fighting Irish’s defensive half. The Orange doubled its shot total from the first 45 minutes and ended the night with nine.

SU’s pressure continued to build up until Allen’s goal. Now within one, all the Orange needed was one goal to halt their losing streak and earn their first result in the ACC. Rather, the Fighting Irish refound their first-half form, using quick, precise passing and speed to devastate Syracuse’s defense.

With 11 minutes remaining, Notre Dame’s Sammi Fisher beat goalkeeper Jordan Harris to the ball, dribbled around her, and tucked it in. Six minutes later, Jennifer Westendorf headed in a corner kick. Four minutes later, Karin Muya notched her second goal of the night, dribbling through two SU defenders before finding the bottom left corner. A close game had rapidly turned into an embarrassing one for the Orange.

“I thought it was working, I thought we had some good spells,” Wheddon said about SU’s second half adjustments. “It doesn’t matter if you have good spells if you shoot yourself in the foot.”

Published on October 13, 2018 at 10:01 pm

Contact David: ddschnei@syr.edu