Men’s Soccer Hosts Syracuse on Tuesday to Kick Off Four-Game Homestand
ALBANY, N.Y.- University at Albany men’s soccer (3-8-3, 1-2-1 AE) hosts in-state rival Syracuse on Tuesday at 7 p.m., at Bob Ford Field to begin a four-game homestand.
UAlbany is coming off a 1-1 week, downing UMass Lowell 3-1 at home and dropping a 2-1 decision at Vermont.
Freshman Leonardo Rodrigues was named America East Rookie of the Week on Monday for his effort against UMass Lowell on Wednesday. The freshman scored the gamewinner against the River Hawks in his first career appearance. Rodrigues scored just five minutes after entering the game in the second half.
Junior forward Brandon Wilson had a two-goal weekend against UMass Lowell and Vermont, scoring the lone goal in a 2-1 loss to the Catamounts and striking first against the River Cats. Wilson is the leading scorer for the Great Danes with four goals this season.
Captains Chris Nisser and Dominic McGarr continue to climb the UAlbany career leaderboard. Nisser notched his 64th career start against Vermont, which ranks him third in the last decade in career starts. With his 51st consecutive start on Saturday, Dominic McGarr entered the top-10 in Division I starts.
SCOUTING SYRACUSE
The Great Danes and Orange have met five times in the Division I era, with Syracuse holding a 3-1-1 advantage in the series. The Orange won last year’s meeting in Syracuse to kick off the season 2-0.
The Orange are 6-0 in nonconference play this season, including a 1-0 win over then-No. 12 UConn on Sept. 17. Syracuse is winless in its last three contests, falling 3-2 to Boston College on Oct. 8, posting a 1-1 tie against Pittsburgh and falling 1-0 at North Carolina on Oct. 18.
The Orange are ranked tied for 18th in the nation with 26 total goals. Emil Ekblom leads Syracuse on offense with eight goals and three assists for 19 points. Syracuse advanced to the NCAA third round last season before falling to eventual NCAA runner-up Georgetown.
