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Just under five minutes into Thursday’s contest, Erin Flurey had an opportunity to put the Orange ahead on a penalty kick.

She made no mistake, firing a blistering shot into the top left of the goal past NC State goalkeeper Olivia Pratapas, giving Syracuse a much-needed early advantage. The goal marked the first time SU held a lead over an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent since Oct. 5, 2023.

“I think it allowed us to breathe out a little bit and really start getting into our game,” SU head coach Nicky Thrasher Adams said postgame of the goal.

In its 1-1 tie against NC State (3-9-3, 0-5-2 ACC), Syracuse’s (6-8-2, 0-7-1 ACC) offense appeared early after it had been held scoreless in its last four games. Although it got off to a strong start by converting on a penalty kick, Syracuse’s attackers couldn’t finish chances down the stretch, allowing the Wolfpack to tie the game and ultimately steal a point from the Orange.

In just the fourth minute, Syracuse’s aggressive press swarmed NC State’s backline. As a result, the Orange were rewarded with the game’s first corner, and nearly capitalized.

From the right side, Flurey sent the ball into the 18-yard box. After deflecting off multiple bodies in front, Ava Uribe fired the ball toward the goal starting a series of Syracuse shot attempts. By the end of the scramble, the Orange had registered four shots, none of which reached the back of the net.

After a video review, NC State was assessed a foul on the play. On the ensuing penalty kick, Flurey cashed in for SU’s only goal.

Until around the 15th minute, the Orange continued to control possession in the Wolfpack’s end. It resulted in a series of set-piece attempts for SU, but its attackers’ shots toward the goal were often blocked or easily stopped by Pratapas.

Heading the other direction downfield, NC State’s attackers faced similar problems when attempting to create chances in front of Syracuse goalkeeper Blythe Braun. Braun, who had not started in goal since Syracuse’s 5-0 victory over Mercyhurst on Aug. 25, 2024, was not tested beyond routine saves in the first half. When the Wolfpack found open shooting lanes, it often struggled to put shots on target.

About midway through the opening half, Uribe found herself alone with an opportunity to score, but again failed to finish.

Minutes later, Anna Croyle carved through two Wolfpack defenders in the midfield with Uribe sprinting ahead of her and lofted the ball behind NC State’s backline. Now in a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, Uribe fired a shot toward the left side of the net. But with no lift on the ball, she was denied by the outstretched leg of Pratapas.

“I think you saw a more fluid attack being able to keep (possession),” Adams said. “Today (there was) a calmness about us to complete two passes and then be able to go forward with numbers around it.”

For the rest of the frame, the Orange and Wolfpack continued to exchange offensive possessions, with both sides finishing with nine shots at the half.

In the second frame, it was the Wolfpack who jumped on the attack early and put the Orange back on their heels. In the 56th minute, their efforts would eventually pay off as Taylor Chism pounced on a loose ball at the outside of the box to draw even.

The Wolfpack continued to ride their momentum for nearly the next 10 minutes, peppering Braun while Syracuse’s offense was unable to do anything but watch as its backline fought to keep the game tied.

Confident after her opening goal, Flurey began what would be a long series of unfinished opportunities by the Orange in the final stretch of the second half.

With possession in the midfield, Flurey worked her way down the left side of the NC State box. With a quick move around her defender, she created time for herself to release a shot that seemed destined for the top right corner as it curved toward the goal. But despite her best efforts, the ball sailed wide of the net.

Shortly after in the 78th minute, the Orange were awarded their fourth corner of the game. On the ensuing attempt, Gabby Wisbeck looked to have a wide-open net in front of her and used a header to redirect the ball on target. But as it had done all night, the ball went off target and into an NC State defender in front, effectively shutting down the point-blank chance.

After multiple near-miss cross attempts by Syracuse, the Orange generated one final chance to break the deadlock.

Chasing down the ball in NC State territory, Maya McDermott stole it and looked to make a play to the top of the box. She dished a pass to Ashley Rauch, who was unguarded with nothing but grass separating her from the goal.

But instead of immediately shooting the ball, she hesitated and tried to change her angle. This gave NC State’s Janet Okeke just enough time to kick it out from underneath her, foiling SU’s final chance to pull ahead for its first ACC win of the season.

“I liked our attitudes this week, so we’ll build what we’ve been working on with more repetition going to the goal,” Adams said.

Published on October 18, 2024 at 12:31 am

Contact Matthew: mgray06@syr.edu