Syracuse Back to Winning Ways with Upset Over No. 22 UNC

Syracuse defeated No. 22 UNC 1-0 to earn its second win over a ranked opponent and hand the Tar Heels their first ACC loss of the season at SU Soccer Stadium on Senior Day.

A first-half goal from Landon Darko was enough for the Orange to take all three points and earn their seventh win of the season. Despite Chimere Omeze being shown a red card in the last seven minutes of the match, Syracuse was able to see out the 1-0 win with 10 men.

Carlos Zambrano was essential in Syracuse's attack, showcasing his individual quality. In the 36th minute, he assisted Darko's third goal of the season.

Giona Leibold found Zambrano down the left side, who controlled the ball on his chest, flicked it over his defender, and was in behind UNC's backline. As he drove forward, he shook off a recovering defender, and with the help of a Sachiel Ming run through the center, both attracted six UNC players to the ball. Zambrano spotted Darko unmarked on the back post and squared the ball to Darko for him to finish.

Syracuse heavily favored its left side going forward. Leibold was threatening in attack, consistently taking on his man, either beating them or getting that half-yard of space to put service into the box.

On multiple occasions, Zambrano drifted wide from central areas to link up with Leibold, with Ming also joining at times. While the left side of the field was overloaded, Darko consistently made himself an option either from forward runs through the or in the box when the ball has been worked out wide.

There was a lot of direct play throughout the match. It was important for Syracuse to win the first and second balls in midfield, and the Orange did just that. Once the second ball was won, players were already flying forward.

Zambrano was instrumental in winning the second balls and keeping play in the attacking third.

He was also the outlet to relieve pressure by picking up those pockets in the half space on the left side, which caused problems for UNC's backline. Zambrano's individual quality to beat players one-on-one and be that creative spark for Syracuse proved vital.

As Syracuse looked to see out the match, Omeze picked up a straight red in the 83rd minute. He slid into a challenge with his studs high up on the ankle of UNC's Charlie Antonelius, and it was a deserved sending off. Omeze has started every game this season and will serve a one-game suspension against NC State.

Tomas Hut came up big once again with a crucial save in the 87th minute to keep the lead intact. Luka Nikolai cut in from the right side and curled one with his left foot that was destined for the top corner, as Hut tipped the ball over the bar with one hand at full extension.

Syracuse now has four wins in the ACC, doubling last year's total. The Orange sit fourth in the ACC on 12 points, though they've played one more game than the teams around them. The last time the Orange had four ACC wins was their national title-winning season in 2022.

Coach McIntyre praised the contributions of players new to the ACC and said he was proud of how they stepped up.

"We had guys playing out of position just to get us over that line," he said. 

He listed several players and was proud of his team for bouncing back on senior day.

"Our guys were terrific," he said. "We'll probably be physically a mess for a few days because that's what you've got to go all in to try to pick up points in this league."

Syracuse will travel to No. 3 NC State on Friday. The Wolfpack are 10-1-3 overall and 3-1-2 in the ACC. NC State plays Duke on Saturday night. 

Previously Published on CuseNation for 247 Sports

Syracuse Earns First Home Win of the Season Against Colgate

A strong second-half display from Syracuse gave the Orange a 3-0 win over Colgate. It was three second-half goals from Carlos Zambrano that gave Syracuse its first home win of the season, and Coach Ian McIntyre became the winningest coach in Syracuse men's soccer history, passing Dean Foti. 

The Climb to 142

When Coach McIntyre first came here, it never crossed his mind to be the winningest coach in Syracuse men's soccer history. In his first year, the team won two games, and in his second year, they won three. "I was fortunate enough to have a job and guys believing in what we were trying to do," he said.

Now, Coach McIntyre has the most wins in the program, with 142, including the team's first national championship in 2022. "Being here this long, this is home," he said. "I've been very fortunate to have wonderful support from the University, and it was nice to do it at home with this group."

The Carlos Zambrano Show 

After a flat first half from the Orange, the team needed someone to step up and be a difference maker, and Zambrano did that. 

The second half was night and day compared to the first half. It was a strong start to the second half from the Orange. The team was energetic in possession and began to create goal-scoring opportunities. 

The deadlock broke in the 58th minute. Sachiel Ming received the ball out wide and drove into the penalty box, beating three players before being brought down from behind on a challenge made by defender Ethan Harris. The referee awarded Syracuse the penalty even after video review.

Before tonight, the Orange had missed their last two penalty kicks, which both came from different players. Zambrano was the one who stepped up and smashed the ball down the middle, giving 'Cuse a 1-0 lead. 

After the first goal went in, the Orange had some newfound confidence.

Two minutes later, in the 60th minute, Zambrano made it 2-0. He grabbed his second goal of the night directly from the corner, an olimpico. 

Zambrano completed his hat trick in the 66th minute. He received the ball at the top of the box with his back to goal and was then able to turn using the outside of his foot. He drove into the penalty box and smashed the ball with his left into the right corner of the side netting, completing his hat trick in under 10 minutes. Zambrano is the first player to score a hat trick for Syracuse since 2019, when Ryan Raposo scored his against North Carolina. 

What's Next

Syracuse returns to ACC play on Saturday to visit Cal. This will be the first time these two programs have met. Syracuse's current record stands at 3-4-2 and a conference record of 0-2. The Golden Bears are 4-3-2 overall with a 1-1-1 record in the ACC. Cal won 1-0 last time out against UNC Asheville.

Previously Published on CuseNation for 247 Sports

Syracuse Men’s Soccer Remains Winless at Home

Syracuse has yet to win a game at home this season, following a 1-0 defeat to Duquesne. Their record now stands at 2-2-1 with ACC play fast approaching. 

The game had a similar feel when Syracuse played Yale last time out. Although Duquesne didn't sit as low as Yale did, in the first half, Syracuse controlled much of the possession as they tried to unlock Duquesne's defense, but lacked that final pass. 

Attacking Play

The Orange heavily used the left-hand side with Sachiel Ming and Ernest Mensah Jr., who looked to play off with each other's movement, whether it was overlapping runs or combination plays, as they looked to get the ball into the box. Carlos Zambrano also offered a third-man option, trying to disorganize the Duquesne defense to create space for either Ming or Mensah Jr. to run into. 

Tactical Setup From The Orange

Syracuse's shape in possession saw their two center backs, Tim Brdaric and Garrett Holman, split wide, and either Nathan Scott or Tim Noeding dropped in between the two to get on the ball as they looked to spray balls out wide. The movement of the center backs enabled Kelvin Da Costa and Mensah Jr, the two outside backs, to roll high and occupy more of the width so they wouldn't be on the same plane as the wingers of Ming and Chimere Omeze. This tactical shift in formation while in possession allowed Syracuse to circulate the ball around their attacking third, having pinned Duquesne back at the top of their box. The Orange lacked that final ball to give them a genuine scoring chance. The shots Syracuse generated throughout the game didn't threaten Duquesne's keeper, Diego Chavez. 

Out of possession, Syracuse looked to win the ball back immediately with high pressure, making it difficult for Duquesne to string passes together. Even on goal kicks, Coach McIntyre had the front three of Ming, Zambrano, and Bright Nutornutsi stand just outside on top of the penalty box, daring Duquesne to build from the back. When the Dukes tried to build, they turned the ball over immediately from either long balls or losing the ball in their defensive third. 

Duquesne's First Chance At Goal

The rare occasion when Duquesne was in their attacking third nearly resulted in a goal. Duquesne worked the ball nicely to get service into the box, and Syracuse partially cleared their lines, which gave Duquesne two chances at goal, with the second a shot from Grant McIntosh that took a dangerous deflection just going wide of the post. 

The Goal

In the second half, Duquesne came out of their low block and tried to take the game to Syracuse, which they did. The opening minutes saw Duquesne possess the ball more than they did in all of the first half.

The game's only goal came off a mistake from Holman. Aswin Menon played a long ball over the top on the right-hand side for Bendix Bennetzen to run onto. Holman was already goal side and misplaced his pass to keeper Tomas Hut as he moved to create a better passing angle for Holman, which Hakon Dagur Matthiasson ran onto the loose ball in front of the goal and put it in the back of the net. 

On A Positive Note

Despite the result, Coach McIntyre was able to turn to captain Giona Leibold as he was available for the first time since September 20th, 2024.

"He is still a long way away from the Giona Leibold that we know, but to see him on the pitch today was terrific," Coach McIntyre said. 

What did Coach McIntyre Say? 

Following the match, Coach McIntyre shared his thoughts on what needs to be addressed. 

"We did enough to get something out of this result, but we didn't take our chances," Coach McIntyre said. "But look, they'll come. If we keep creating and get numbers in [the box], we'll score goals."

What's Next?

The Orange will face New Haven on Monday at home. This is New Haven's first season playing at the Division I level. The Chargers' record is 2-0-1, as they drew Dartmouth last time out. 

Previously Published on CuseNation for 247 Sports

What Does it Take to be Syracuse’s Iconic Mascot?

A step-by-step look at how students train, perform and embody Syracuse’s Otto the Orange.

Otto the Orange is everywhere. The beloved mascot is always cheering on the sidelines, raising morale around campus and is arguably the most recognizable figure from Syracuse University. 

But what does it take to become the person behind the mask?

Each year at Syracuse University, a handful of students audition for the chance to become Otto. The mascot coach, Julie Walas, said the process to become Otto is selective and lengthy, taking between four and six weeks. Walas explains the step-by-step process of how someone becomes Otto the Orange. 

Tryout process

Tryouts are held secretly, Walas said. For those interested, students need to be on the lookout for posters or Instagram posts announcing auditions. Students who want to be Otto need to really want it, Walas said.

During the tryout period, students participate in a series of competitive interviews. Walas said she includes former Ottos in the process to assess candidates.

“They join info sessions, assist with group interviews and are very dedicated to maintaining the legacy of the Otto program by helping us find the right candidates,” Walas said. 

Walas and her team evaluate the students on whether they fit the team dynamic of the 12 to 15 students sharing the mascot role. She said they look for students with the ability to perform and entertain.

“It’s definitely clowning, in a way,” Patrick Linehan, a former Otto, said. “It’s like trying to make people laugh without being able to talk.”

Former team captain of the 2023 Otto cohort Maya Vidal said the role requires the ability to be creative underneath a mask. She remembered adapting to different situations nonverbally, like calming down rowdy fans or easing frightened children.

“I’ve always been very creative,” Vidal said. “I did dance for like 16 years and then I did theater and improv. So I feel like all of it kind of came together and was helpful. They were all helpful qualities and traits that helped me with Otto.” 

Training

Once students are selected, they begin training to become Otto. Students need at least two full semesters left at Syracuse, since it takes six to eight weeks of onboarding before the student’s first appearance as Otto, Walas said. 

Part of the training process includes shadowing current Ottos and doing workouts to stay in shape, Linehan said.

“We were working out three times a week and trying to get in good physical shape so Otto can go up and down stairs and jump around without being out of breath,” Linehan said. 

What does it mean to be Otto?

Delivering the Otto experience and presence that people have come to love takes time, Walas said. 

“20 to 25% of what you do is actually to deliver an Otto experience to people, but 70 to 75 to 80% of what you do is prepare and plan for and organize and train for that delivery,” she said. 

Otto is the spirit of Syracuse University. Walas said that those interested must understand that being Otto will not come with personal recognition.

For Walas, she said her reward is seeing the impact the program has on students.

“The thing that makes it the best is coaching students, [it’s] like helping them find their place here, have a transformative experience, and deliver joy to the community.”

Previously Published on The NewsHouse

Students Take Deep-Dive into High Falls State Park Transformation

Students in Dr. Michael Boller’s Learning Community course, Rochester EcoSYSTEMS, are taking a deep-dive into the urban ecology of Rochester’s Genesee River.

Designed for first-year students at Fisher, the course explores Rochester, its parks, and how it all ties together through the Genesee River. The students are learning about how the ROC the Riverway initiative is helping to transform High Falls into a state park. Throughout the semester, students heard from guest speakers who talked about the multiyear process and development of the effort to bring a Rochester landmark into the state park system.

Beginning in 2018, New York recognized the benefit of developing the waterfront area in Rochester, creating the ROC the Riverway initiative. By 2020, after clean-up efforts to clear High Falls of pollution, the State announced the area would go under development to become a park.

“The reason why students are learning about High Falls is because this is an opportunity to learn how something big like this happens. This will be a major change in the course of the city of Rochester and New York State,” said Boller. “We have front-row seats to see it happen and have the opportunity to give input. You think of civic engagement, students are getting the opportunity to come up with ideas that could be physically manifested into the state park someday.”

Through the course, students will be tasked with developing proposals for ideas and projects around High Falls. Boller said this is an opportunity to help students understand that they have the agency to impact their community.

“ROC the Riverway has engaged with a lot of public input, and some things happen because of that public input,” said Boller. “One of those things includes an environmental education center or an urban ecology center in the state park plan. 

The idea for an educational center sprang from a group of professors and staff from different universities, Seneca Park Zoo Society, and other environmental organizations. At the beginning of ROC the Riverway, the concept was included under “future ideas” but has since been incorporated into the preliminary ideas for High Falls State Park.

Boller is trained as a marine ecologist, and when he arrived at Fisher, he leaned into aquatic ecology as his area of science to teach. He then got involved with the Genesee RiverWatch and was on the Board of Directors for a number of years. His role was to develop education projects for the organization. The water resources in Rochester have led Boller to start a nonprofit called Rochester Ecology Partners, which does a lot of nature-based learning with the Rochester City School District and community organizations.

“We have a vision of being part of an environmental education center through the High Falls State Park opportunity or something else to build places for people to come and learn about the environment, watershed, and the river,” Boller said. He also noted that the Rochester Ecology Partners have been in talks with High Falls State Park planners as the center takes shape.

Boller said he will continue to build these partnerships so that he can engage future Fisher students in the work for ROC the Riverway and the High Falls State Park effort.

Previously Published on St. John Fisher University News and Events Fall 2024 Archive

Alumna Represents Team USA in Transatlantic Cup

Unique, fast-paced, and physical, Australian rules football, also known as footy for short, combines elements of soccer, rugby, and Gaelic football. Alumna Rita Hill ’13 is among the best in the sport in the United States, and she credits her success to her four years to Fisher.

Over the summer, Hill was a member of the United States Australian Football League (USAFL) team and competed in the Transatlantic Cup, an international tournament held in Canada.

And, it all started with an email.

“It was not on my radar,” said Hill. But during her first few weeks as a first-year student at Fisher, she saw an email about the women’s club rugby team. It sparked her interest, and she decided to try out for the team. Two weeks after being introduced to the sport, she was playing in her first game. It ended with a broken toe, but that didn’t stop her. She was hooked.

She said the Fisher rugby team was a great community, a great way to connect with people, and a great way to get in physical activity. At the time, rugby was a non-traditional women’s sport in the U.S., and in some ways, Hill said that heightened her interest in playing, as she wanted to challenge herself. She was also drawn to the process of honing the techniques and skills required of rugby.

“The camaraderie around learning how to grow our [individual] game together was really cool,” she said. “Playing on the rugby team at Fisher was key to my college experience.”

She stayed active in the sport; from 2014 to 2016, she played for the Glendale Merlins Rugby Team–now the Colorado Grey Wolves. She took a rest from the sport while she served with the Peace Corps, and then rejoined the Merlins for the 2019-2020 season until COVID hit. In 2021, she eventually transitioned to Australian rules football by joining the Denver Bulldogs, and she remains a member of the team today.

Eleven years after wearing a Fisher jersey for the first time, Hill has turned her hard work and commitment into the opportunity of a lifetime. After a short hiatus from all international competition due to COVID-19, Team USA was gearing up to compete on the international stage once again. And when they took the field, Hill was determined to be there representing the team. In 2023, Hill participated in the USAFL’s training camp and was offered a spot on the reserve team. Hill played in a tournament and was then called up to the first team for a game. 

Last December, she began a rigorous training program that included lifting, skills testing, fitness testing, and other activities to prepare for the USAFL team’s training camp in May. 

After training camp was finished, at the end of June, she received the news: she had been selected to represent the U.S. in the Transatlantic Cup. 

It was a quick turnaround from selection to competition. The tournament was held in August, and included six teams: USA, Canada, Ireland, Great Britain, France, and Colombia. 

“It was very exciting to be there after so much preparation, and the discipline that was required felt like it paid off,” she said.

The team was a mix of players she knew from the Denver Bulldogs, others she had competed against, and a few players she was meeting for the first time. The first game was about understanding how her teammates play and building on-field chemistry. As the tournament progressed, she enjoyed learning, growing as a team, and seeing improvement in every game. One of Hill’s best memories from the tournament was the feeling she got from lining up with her teammates and hearing the national anthem.  

The team found success, beating France, Great Britain, and Canada to advance to the finals. This was the first time the women’s USAFL team made it to a final in an international tournament. Only a few people can say they represented their country at an international tournament, let alone in the championship game. It was an experience Hill won’t soon forget.

“I was a lot less nervous going into it than I thought I would be,” she said. “I felt more privileged.”

Team USA fell to Ireland in the final, but it didn’t diminish the sense of pride Hill and her teammates had for their performance.

 Reaching the final was a pinnacle moment for Hill and she is proud of the progress and growth both rugby and footy has had for women. It’s come a long way, she said, since her time at Fisher.

“I can’t understate the value Fisher rugby and the women I played with added to my life, athletic career, and beyond,” she said.

Previously Published on St. John Fisher University News and Events Fall 2024 Archive

Success Marks the Start of Club Basketball

Student interest in club sports is growing on St. John Fisher University’s campus and students are working to increase the number of club sports available. Three undergraduates—Jenna Hoffman, Brendan Evans, and Adam Jones—worked hard last year to bring club basketball to campus.

“Club sports can be beneficial for students who choose not to play a varsity sport,” said Dr. Zach Murphy, who serves as the advisor for both clubs. He added that club basketball is heavily student-driven, which added to their early impact at Fisher. “Clubs run best when invested students do the driving.”

The success of both teams—on the court and on campus—proves his point.

During the 2024 Cardinal Awards, held this past spring, club basketball received New Club of the Year, and Murphy received Advisor of the Year.

“It is rewarding to watch students do their own thing,” Murphy said.

 As with any new venture, the road to success included a dose of hard work for the trio.

Hoffman, who serves as president of the women’s team, described starting up the club as challenging yet worth it. “I had a mission after my first year at Fisher, which was to create more opportunities on campus for women in club sports,” she said.

Hoffman then connected with graduating senior Brendan Evans and junior Adam Jones, who were both interested in starting a men’s team. Evans served as the men’s club basketball president before graduating in May. Jones served as vice president and continues to be a leader for the team.

Next came the process of gaining recognition by Fisher’s Student Government Association. “The next step for both club teams was to work together to complete the club application to present to the club review board,” said Hoffman, adding that the process also included creating and drafting a constitution and bylaws for club basketball. “We then had to find a league and be in contact with the organization to be voted into that conference. Once we were welcomed into the league, we made a presentation to the club review board at Fisher as the final step for affiliation with the school and student government to receive student funding for our teams!” Hoffman explained.

Hoffman serves as a student ambassador with the Office of Admissions and used the opportunity to promote club basketball to prospective students when giving campus tours and speaking on student panels. Several students she met on tours or at admission events last year decided to join the team this year.

The new men’s club basketball president, Jack Beauchamp, mentioned that “nearly every student who played last year decided to play again.” Beauchamp enjoys reaching out and recruiting first-year students at events such as the Involvement Fest. The interest in club basketball was high, as there were around 30 students at tryouts for an 18-man roster, said Beauchamp. The men’s team had a strong showing in their debut season as they finished as conference champions. Beauchamp said they look to do the same again this year and return to regionals.

Hoffman said it can be challenging for students who have played a sport for most of their lives and decide not to play a sport affiliated with a university. To have a club sport that a university or college offers for students who want to continue playing their sport can be important in their decision process. Hoffman said, “I am so thankful that I was able to help pioneer club basketball for the future of our Fisher community.”

Previously Published on St. John Fisher University News and Events Fall 2024 Archive

St. John Fisher University Opens New Athletic Performance Lab

This past summer, St. John Fisher University created the new Athletic Performance Lab to support students majoring in athletic performance. Launched only two years ago, the major has gained traction quickly and is an addition to the School of Arts and Science’s life sciences division.   

When the program began, students used the weight room and fitness center as their lab space, but it presented its challenges. It was difficult to coordinate class time without distraction between students learning in the space and student-athletes training in the space, explained Kristy Hart, a visiting instructor in the program. As the athletic performance major is an applied study, students needed a dedicated space to learn theory and then have the opportunity to apply it, added Hart.  

“Having a space dedicated to the program allows for better quality of learning for the students,” she said. “I am appreciative that the University was willing to go all in on the program.”

The importance of having the Athletic Performance Lab for students in the major is critical, added Dr. Andrew Wells, an assistant professor. 

“This is the environment and the equipment students will be working in and with as professionals. They have to understand the environment and how to use this equipment effectively to build resilient high performing athletes,” he continued. “Trying to have an athletic performance program to prepare students for a career in health and wellness or as an agent to improve athletic performance without a lab would be very challenging.” 

Wells explained that students learn proper lifting techniques, how to coach athletes to use proper lifting techniques, and use the lab’s equipment to assess and track an athlete's performance. One such example of the lab’s capabilities is the use of a metabolic cart, which measures the amount of oxygen a person can use during exercise at maximal effort.  Known as a VO2max test, it allows for the development of an evidence-based training plan to improve an athlete’s performance in longer distance events, Wells explained. Another capability of the lab involves a piece of equipment called the BOD POD™, an air displacement plethysmography device, that will help students learn about body composition. Wells added that the device allows students to look at body density, a means of estimating fat and fat free mass which includes muscle. For athletes, the BOD POD™ can be an effective way to assess their change in estimated muscle and body fat over time to evaluate if a training program is working as intended to improve performance specific to their sport or event, and position, Wells explained. 

However, the Athletic Performance Lab is not limited to just these two capabilities. The lab can also test several facets of athletic physical fitness such as resting energy expenditure; muscular strength, endurance, and power; flexibility; and balance. This allows for a dynamic range of assessment to track training and nutrition interventions to reduce risk of injury as well as improve performance based on the individual athlete's needs. 

The includes equipment that people would see at a traditional gym such as kettlebells, power racks, medicine balls, and more. The space also contains a fair amount of testing and training equipment, including sit and reach, hand grip dynamometers, joint range of motion, and more. 

Wells said that the opening of the Athletic Performance Lab is particularly exciting for the incoming first-year class, as they will have it for the duration of the collegiate career at Fisher.  

“The program aims to implement academic learning experiences for students which includes undergraduate research and to create collaborative opportunities for faculty to do research across a variety of scientific fields,” said Wells. He hopes to develop a community program to provide testing services to individuals interested in improving or maintaining their fitness which would extend to working with Fisher teams to help student-athletes. The goal is to “use this lab to its maximum capacity and maximize the benefit,” he said.  

There are many professions students can choose once they have graduated from the program, including strength and conditioning coach, physical therapist, or sports physician, among others. Overall, the program wants to match the experience in the Athletic Performance Lab to what students will see when they leave, from knowing how a facility runs to understanding how to effectively use athletic performance testing equipment.

Previously Published on St. John Fisher University News and Events Fall 2024 Archive