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Syracuse women’s soccer started out the 2024 season by winning six of its first eight games – the third-best start in program history. During this stretch, SU dominated its opponents, outscoring them 16-3.

But in their first two Atlantic Coast Conference games, the Orange were outclassed, falling 4-1 to SMU and 1-0 to Virginia Tech. On Thursday, SU faced its toughest matchup of the year – No. 2 Florida State.

It took just six minutes for the Seminoles to get on the board. FSU’s leading scorer, Taylor Huff, streaked down the middle of the field and found Peyton McGovern open on the right side of the 18-yard box. McGovern, seeing Wrianna Hudson open to the left of the goal, fired a one-touch pass toward the standout freshman.

Syracuse goalkeeper Shea Vanderbosch dove to cut off the pass, but missed, giving Hudson a wide-open net. Hudson didn’t miss, handing FSU an early 1-0 lead that it wouldn’t surrender.

Syracuse (6-4-1, 0-3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) was dismantled by Florida State (6-0-1, 1-0-0 ACC) 5-1 Thursday. The Seminoles were led by two goals each from Huff and Kameron Simmonds. FSU outshot Syracuse 22-11 while the Orange only posted four shots on goal, extending their losing streak to begin ACC play to three.

Right out of the gate, FSU threatened. Ran Iwai lofted a long shot toward the goal, which Vanderbosch punched out for a corner. However, the ensuing shot was cleared by Iba Oching.

Following this series, the Seminoles took the early lead on Hudson’s third goal of the season.

Both teams then traded scoring chances. On the left side of the box, FSU’s Ashlyn Puerta sent a pass inside to Mimi Van Zanten. The defense had a clean look, but kicked the ball right to Vanderbosch.

On the other end, Ava Uribe passed the ball forward to Gabby Wisbeck. Wisbeck sent a cross to Anna Rupert in front of the net, but Rupert squibbed a shot wide right.

Then, in the 15th minute, the Seminoles added to their lead. Carissa Boeckmann threaded the ball through Kylen Grant and Anna Croyle to Simmonds. The forward found herself one-on-one with Vanderbosch, as SU’s keeper charged toward her. She slotted the ball through Vanderbosch’s legs to make it 2-0.

Seven minutes later, the Orange squandered another opportunity. After an FSU foul, Ashley Rauch took the free kick and booted the ball to Erin Flurey. She was able to force a corner, which Maya McDermott got on the end of, but her shot was easily blocked.

SU’s defense stood strong toward the end of the first half. Sophia Nguyen received a long pass and tapped it inside to Hudson. Though Croyle was there to force a poor shot. Moments later, Vanderbosch made a key save after Huff sent a line drive to the bottom left corner.

Syracuse received one more chance to cut into FSU’s lead at the end of the half. Uribe was fouled just to the left of the 18-yard box. But Flurey’s free kick was just out of reach of a charging McDermott.

FSU came out of the break strong. In the 47th minute, McGovern passed the ball back to Van Zanten, who missed wide left. Next, Marianyela Jiménez drilled a line drive, which Vanderbosch fully extended for and knocked out for a corner.

The Seminoles cashed in four minutes later. As Jiménez dribbled down the left side of the field, Simmonds motored past the Orange backline. Jiménez fed her the ball, putting her in another one-on-one with Vanderbosch. This time, Simmonds slotted the ball perfectly inside the left post for FSU’s third goal.

After 10 minutes of back-and-forth possession, Simmonds notched her third goal contribution of the contest. After forcing a turnover, she sent a long pass to Huff, who broke away from Croyle. Huff drilled a line drive past a sprawling Vanderbosch to make it 4-0.

The Seminoles, up four goals, scaled back offensively following Huff’s goal. As a result, neither team had a serious scoring chance for the next seven minutes.

This allowed Wisbeck to get involved for the Orange. In the 68th minute, she found space on the left of the 18 and sent a left-footed strike over FSU keeper Addie Todd. The ball banged off the crossbar and back in play. Then, Flurey drilled a cross in her direction, but her header floated just over again.

The Orange finally got on the board in the 84th minute via Rauch. From long range, the redshirt junior fired a line drive past a leaping Todd for her fourth goal of the season. Though it was just a consolation for SU.

FSU tacked on once more in the final minutes of the match, as Huff tallied her second of the game off of a pass from Puerta. The game ended soon after, bringing the Orange to 0-3 in ACC play on their most lopsided loss of the season.

Published on September 19, 2024 at 10:26 pm

Contact Noah: njnussba@syr.edu | @ Noahnuss99