Hoya Men’s Soccer 2024

[DanMcQ]

[RusskyHoya]

[FrazierFanatic]

How has Syracuse fallen so far just 2 years after being national champion??

[RusskyHoya]

Oct 22, 2024 9:04:58 GMT -5 FrazierFanatic said:

How has Syracuse fallen so far just 2 years after being national champion??

Here's what the guy on Nunes thinks about this question:

I would say there are a few key issues. 1 has been the use and reliance on young and inexperienced players at this level. Cuse had a great recruiting class and Mac has been giving many of the freshmen key minutes. This is good in the long run but has hurt the team in a few moments this season like giving up the pk against Le Moyne or switiching off in the late stages of games. Even many of the transfers we have who are getting good minutes do not have experience playing against teams of ACC caliber. I would say the second main issue is the disconnect between the forwards and the midfield. Coach Mac has tried to solve this problem in a few different ways, but none of them have worked consistently.

The Orange have greatly missed Levonte Johnson from the 2022 National Championship campaign. Johnson was a special player in that he could play between the lines, dribble and beat a man or two while being closely marked, and was capable of individual moments of jaw-dropping brilliance to decide games. The Orange have great players, but no one who fits that mold. Any good NCAA team you see today will have one or two of these players who can operate in tight spaces and beat players consistently. The Orange lack this right now and need to find / develop players for this role. I think Braedon Smith has this potential. I also think Sachiel Ming may be able to develop in this way, but not soon enough for this season to be saved.

Last thing I would say is the lack of physicality at the back. This year Cuse starts two former midfielders (Cutler-DeJesus and Layton) and a freshman (Bell or Omeze) at the CB positions. In the last two years, the back line has been physically and aerially dominant, probably one of the best in the country. Belluz and Mikina last year were two of the best aerial players I have seen in college. Sjoberg, Olu, Salim, and others also brought big physical presences. This lack of physicality and dominance has allowed opponents to more easily impose their will on the SU defense. I think specifically back to the Charlotte, Le Moyne, and Wake games. All of those teams had big, burly, athletic, and tall forwards who were able to overwhelm our defense for a few goals and chances.

[RusskyHoya]

[kettlehill]

That was a bullet being ( partially ) dodged. What a strange and uncharacteristic game.

[Elvado]

In a game where they uncharacteristically gave up three goals on three shots on goal, I thought the boys showed great commitment to their principles and steely resolve in not folding their tents.

Once again, they created bushels of chances and could/should have had 6 or 7 goals.

After the game, Coach graciously allowed me to talk to the boys about two young family friends who recently lost their Dad. The kids were interested, compassionate and lined up to sign a ball for these boys.

As always, win, lose or draw, this program is a shining example of what Georgetown athletics can be.

[RusskyHoya]

Oct 23, 2024 18:48:54 GMT -5 Elvado said:

In a game where they uncharacteristically gave up three goals on three shots on goal, I thought the boys showed great commitment to their principles and steely resolve in not folding their tents.

Once again, they created bushels of chances and could/should have had 6 or 7 goals.

After the game, Coach graciously allowed me to talk to the boys about two young family friends who recently lost their Dad. The kids were interested, compassionate and lined up to sign a ball for these boys.

As always, win, lose or draw, this program is a shining example of what Georgetown athletics can be.

Like Wiese says: recruit the locker room first. You will rarely, if ever, go wrong betting on character. You might not win every match - but you won't go astray, you won't disgrace yourself, you'll do the kinds of things that bring credit and growth to yourself and others.

The upshot of the unfortunate result on the Main Line is that the Hoyas sit tied with St. John's atop the East Division at 13 points on 4-1-1 records. The Hoyas get DePaul at home next, with the Blue Demons needing a win to try to keep their hopes of even making the Big East Tournament alive. They'll be desperate, but you have to like the Hoyas in that one.

The Johnnies get UConn at home. That's a tougher task, and the Huskies should be extra motivated after being beaten on their home turf by Providence. That match could go any number of different ways.

All that leads to Hoyas @ Johnnies on November 2nd, likely with the East Division title and the #2 seed in the BET on the line (no one is catching Akron). The schedule-makers were onto something.

[RusskyHoya]

Why does he sound like Matthew McConaughey

[DanMcQ]

[RusskyHoya]

A thorough and convincing 4-0 demolition of the Blue Demons. Always great when you can have everyone see the field on Senior Day.

[RusskyHoya]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBmbkL_yek7

[Elvado]

Oct 26, 2024 17:32:32 GMT -5 RusskyHoya said:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBmbkL_yek7

It is a singular pleasure to root for a team that is comprised of young men who are tremendous players and, to a man, even better people.

The gold standard of GU athletics continues to gleam.

[Elvado]

St John’s 1-UConn 1

Hoyas sit atop division at 16 points with PC and SJU at 14.

A draw or better next Saturday clinches division for Hoyas who have the tie breaker over PC.

[RusskyHoya]

Oct 27, 2024 11:27:10 GMT -5 Elvado said:

St John’s 1-UConn 1

Hoyas sit atop division at 16 points with PC and SJU at 14.

A draw or better next Saturday clinches division for Hoyas who have the tie breaker over PC.

Given how Akron has turned their season around after a mediocre non-conference slate and has buzzsawed through the Big East, grabbing the #2 seed that comes with the East Division title becomes especially important. Let's not get ahead of ourselves, but... a rematch in the title game is what you want.

St. John's very likely played themselves out of the #3 seed with that draw, since PC gets Villanova at home as their season finale. They get a week to use that disappointment as fuel and prepare for the Hoyas, so I am expecting a very spirited showing from Dr. Dave's squad. Should be a great warmup for the part of the season where every game has to have a winner.

[DanMcQ]

[RusskyHoya]

*sigh* Kind of a flat performance to round out the regular season, but also a bad bit of luck with the ball bouncing off that terrible turf in a way that led to the PK and first goal. All credit to St. John's for then capitalizing on the Hoyas' shock to knock in a quick second.

As it is, the boys go down from the #2 seed to the #4. Assuming UConn does not become the first team to beat (or, indeed, take any points off of) Akron tonight, the Hoyas will host Creighton in the first round of the BET. Creighton is probably the most dangerous #5 seed you'll find - on any given day, the team that shows up can play absolutely out of their minds.

Hopefully the boys can use this to get every last drop of motivation they can for the next game.

[kettlehill]

Agree about the turf, but the Hoyas were just a step behind all game. St. Johns was flying around and impressive and they were the better team today.
The Hoyas road woes continue....

[RusskyHoya]

[DanMcQ]