Syracuse Soccer: Orange is one victory away from its first national title

The Syracuse soccer team is heading to the national championship game on Monday night to take on the Indiana Hoosiers, as the Orange seeks its first national title in program history.

The Orange defeated Creighton, 3-2, on Friday evening to advance to the championship contest, after a thrilling battle in the College Cup.

In the 37th minute, senior defender Christian Curti would score off a corner to take the lead with a kick from inside the box of Creighton. After Creighton scored in the 49th minute to tie it back up, Syracuse soccer would answer a minute later, in the 50th minute, after sophomore forward Nathan Opoku split three defenders to score off a beautiful pass in the box to take the 2-1 lead.

In the 63rd minute, Creighton tied it up again to keep it a close battle, with both teams tied at two goals each. In the 85th minute, though, the Orange duo of Opoku and senior forward Levonte Johnson would connect once again, as Johnson would score on a beautiful slide in the box to give Syracuse soccer the 3-2 lead and, ultimately, provide the game-winner for the Orange.

Syracuse soccer will try to win its first national championship in program history on Monday evening.

Syracuse soccer head coach Ian McIntyre commented after the game, saying in a cuse.com press release, “That was a game that was worthy of a College Cup, two teams got after it today, thankful for the toughness on our team to get us by this match.”

No. 3 seed Syracuse soccer, in the College Cup title clash, will take on the No. 13 seed Indiana Hoosiers, which defeated Pittsburgh, 2-0, in the national semifinals on Friday night. The Orange and the Hoosiers will face off for the national championship on Monday, Dec. 12, beginning at 6 pm eastern time from the WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina. ESPNU will televise this game.

Not too long ago, Syracuse soccer also captured the Atlantic Coast Conference championship. Now the Orange is just one triumph away from an even bigger prize.