With five freshmen in the starting lineup, Syracuse took the field Saturday night looking to find ways to make up for its inexperience. But with youth comes growing pains, and the Orange fell to Colgate 1-0 on the road.

For the entire first half, the Orange played solid defense and held the Raiders scoreless. It wasn’t until the 53rd minute that the Syracuse defense lapsed. Senior goalkeeper Phil Boerger couldn’t handle a save, the ball kicked back out in front of the net and Colgate freshman Jimmy McLaughlin put in the rebound for the only goal of the game.

Syracuse’s offense did have some opportunities to score but couldn’t capitalize. Early in the game, junior Mark Brode missed a free kick. Then in the 79th minute, senior Dan Summers, a transfer from Hartwick College, sent a shot just past the right side of the goal. Late in the game, Boerger tried to set up his teammates by sending the ball into the Colgate box, but it was to no avail.

Syracuse took only three shots in the game, compared to the Raiders’ 15. Colgate goalkeeper Grant Reed never even had to make a save. Boerger, who transferred to SU from Evansville University, made six saves to keep his team within reach of tying the game or taking the lead.

Freshman forward Grant Chong and senior midfielder Nick Roydhouse were the other two members of the Orange to take shots.

Eight players made their debuts for Syracuse, which started six freshmen in the second half. In what’s essentially a completely different team from the one that the Orange fielded last season, overcoming that youth and inexperience will be key for SU to have a strong season in head coach Ian McIntyre’s second year.

Syracuse has its home opener Thursday night against Canisius at the SU Soccer Stadium at 7 p.m.

Women’s soccer

Syracuse’s third game of the season, at Colgate, was postponed on Sunday due to weather conditions caused by Hurricane Irene. The game is currently in the process of being rescheduled.

The Orange (1-1, 0-0 Big East) will return to action Thursday against No. 10 Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

SU split its first two games of the season at the Embassy Suites Kick-Off Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. The Orange dropped its season opener to Robert Morris 1-0 on Aug. 19 and defeated Florida Gulf Coast 1-0 two days later.

Published on August 28, 2011 at 12:00 pm