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SJ Quigley inserted Syracuse’s first corner of the game with a pass to set up Eefke van den Nieuwenhof, who controlled the ball before firing a low-driving shot into the bottom left corner of the goal to put SU up 1-0 in the second quarter. 

Less than a minute later, Quigley and Nieuwenhof connected again. After earning another corner, Quigley inserted the ball and set up Nieuwenhof for a direct shot a second time. Nieuwenhof’s powerful shot found the goal to double the Orange’s lead.

After initially struggling to break down the Vermont defense and capitalize on attacking opportunities in the first quarter, the Orange took control of the game during a breakout second quarter, firing 11 shots and earning seven corners.  

“We played pretty composed. And at one point they had everyone behind the ball, and I thought we demonstrated a lot of patience,” head coach Ange Bradley said. 

After going into halftime with a 2-0 lead, Syracuse (2-0) remained in control throughout the second half and went on to defeat Vermont (1-1) 6-0 on Sunday. Syracuse’s offensive front has produced 13 total goals this season despite the absence of forward Charlotte de Vries. The junior is set to return next week against Kent State after playing in the 2021 women’s Junior Pan American Championships.

The Orange began the fall 2020 season with just one win in the team’s first five games, and three games were either canceled or postponed during that period. 

Syracuse isn’t slated to face an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent until Sep. 17 when the Orange will visit Boston College. Against Sacred Heart and Vermont, Syracuse didn’t concede any goals, outshot them 59 to three and earned 22 more corners.

But Bradley, who returned to the sidelines today after serving a suspension in SU’s game against Sacred Heart that carried over from last season, wasn’t fazed about her team’s schedule. 

“We really aren’t even focusing on our competition,” Bradley said. “We have to be able to keep growing, and things that we do really well — we have to keep building upon those.”

Neither team recorded a shot or earned a corner during the first quarter as Syracuse held the bulk of possession. Syracuse couldn’t convert on early opportunities despite controlling possession. The Catamounts thwarted the Orange early on but rarely found themselves in the opposing half, not getting a shot off until the fourth quarter.

The 11 shots and seven corners Syracuse produced proved to be too much for the Vermont backline and goalkeeper Sierra Espeland, who saved 14 shots. 

For the remainder of the game, the Orange continued to keep Vermont in its own half. Whenever the Catamounts would win the ball, SU forwards and midfielders worked to quickly win the ball back. 

Syracuse wasted no time pressing its advantage after the half, scoring two goals within the first four minutes of the third quarter. Laura Graziosi contributed to both, slotting home a cross from freshman Quirine Comans before assisting Florine van Boetzelaer just over two minutes later. SU’s Hailey Bitters notched her second goal of the season to finish off the third quarter.

“(We have to) put our best version of ourselves together when we get into the ACC,” Bradley said. “Win or lose, we’re going to evaluate the same way.”

Published on August 29, 2021 at 8:12 pm

Contact Bryan: brbrush@syr.edu