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Syracuse men’s soccer (6-2-3, 2-1-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) improved to No. 10 in the latest United Soccer Coaches top 25 Poll, announced on Tuesday. This week marks the first time all season where the Orange moved up in the national poll. They began 2023 as the No. 1, and have only fallen or kept their ranking since. 

SU gained eight spots from its previous No. 18 ranking after blanking then-No. 13 North Carolina 1-0 on the road Friday. The Orange also tallied three points earlier in the week in another 1-0 shutout win against Colgate on Tuesday.

Head coach Ian McIntyre made a goalkeeper change heading into the week, as Jahiem Wickham replaced Jason Smith as the starter. It paid off, with Wickham registering clean sheets against both Colgate and UNC. He has yet to allow a goal while starting in net and earned ACC Defensive Player of the Week honors. 

In the win over the Tar Heels, defender Buster Sjoberg’s 23rd-minute goal was the difference for the Orange. A corner kick from midfielder Jeorgio Kocevski hit Sjoberg, who drilled a header past UNC keeper Andrew Cordes. It was Sjoberg’s first-ever goal with SU and Kocevski’s eighth assist of the year, which ranks tied third in Division I.

“Our possession was terrific, connected passes, (we) really kind of stretched the game,” McIntyre said during media availability on Monday about SU’s performance. “That first half, that’s probably the best we’ve played this season.”

McIntyre said that SU hasn’t yet developed into its finished product. The team’s makeup of 15 transfers mixed with some returners from last year is still gelling together. But, earning their first road ACC win and first victory over a ranked foe has provided the Orange with much needed experience.

“There’s not much we haven’t seen,” McIntyre said. “Now, what we can do is to find confidence in the ability to go into a tough environment and secure a clean sheet and win.”

Published on October 10, 2023 at 6:07 pm

Contact Cooper at: ccandrew@syr.edu | @cooper_andrews