Syracuse Women's Soccer Earns Hard-Fought Point Against #17 Wake Forest

The Orange earned a tie against the Demon Deacons.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (All Syracuse FN) – The Orange welcomed in #17 Wake Forest on Thursday night, hoping to find their first win in conference play. Syracuse was able to put together arguably their best effort of the season, battling end to end and picking up a point against the Demon Deacons in a 2-2 draw. The Orange snapped a four-game losing streak with this effort, picking up their first positive ACC result. Midfielder Erin Fluery opened the scoring for Syracuse in the 28th minute when a give and go with forward Hannah Pilley put the captain in on net. Fluery stayed composed, took a couple dribbles in the box, and finished over the Wake Forest keeper. Substitute Raia James doubled the Syracuse lead just before the halftime whistle for her collegiate first goal. After the halftime break, the Demon Deacons pulled one back in the 57th minute and found the net again in the 76th to square the game up at 2-2.

Below are three takeaways from the match:

Who else but Erin Fluery?

Erin Fluery, a Syracuse captain and the undisputed heart and soul of the team, is a standout every time the Orange take the field. Her goal to open the scoring today was her fifth of the year – she’s by far the leading scorer on the roster as no other Syracuse player has netted more than twice this season. Fluery’s strike tonight required a lot of poise, but the captain downplayed it when asked. “It was a regular finish for a forward,” Fleury humbly said after the game. “It was great getting it, having the lead, gave us a positive mood in the first half.”

It’s clear that Fleury needed some goalscoring help and answering that call tonight was Raia James. The senior scored her first goal of her collegiate career, coming off the bench and making an instant impact. James was mobbed by her teammates after, and her coach had nothing but praise postgame. “Raia is one of those kids that shows up every single day,” Adams said. “She may not get the playing time that others get, but what a big moment for her tonight.”

A Great Result in Context

This is one of those games where the timing of the goals makes a result feel like less than it should. Wake Forest coming back and tying this game up should take nothing away from the fact that an extremely shorthanded Syracuse team took a point off a ranked opponent. “We’ll take this as a point in the ACC,” Adams said. “It’s the best conference in women’s soccer, and to get any point, especially in the situation we’re in, is pretty dang good.”

Through 11 games this year, the Demon Deacons had given up six goals and tallied seven shutouts. The Orange managed to put two by keeper Payton Cahill, making them the only team besides #13 Notre Dame that has scored more than one goal against Wake Forest this season. Syracuse also held strong defensively against a whopping 27 shots tonight, mostly to the credit of keeper Shea Vanderbosch. She has been described by Adams as one of the best shot stoppers in the country and came through with some absolutely massive moments tonight. Vanderbosch made 11 saves while conceding two fluky goals that were of little to no fault of her own.

At This Point I’m Shocked I’m Not Injured

Injuries are part of every team’s season, and it’s rare that a squad makes it through a tough collegiate schedule where teams are playing twice a week without picking up some knocks. That being said, the volume of injuries for this Syracuse team is bordering on unfathomable. The pressure on the few girls left healthy is crushing, and spectators can see it as Syracuse players face cramps and tire out early in the second half. “At one point in the second half I had twelve players,” Adams said, followed by a sad laugh. “I think getting past 65 minutes is going to be tough unfortunately.”

Against a deep team like Wake Forest that applied so much pressure in the second half, the Orange just ran out of gas while putting their bodies on the line to defend. Fleury, who did her postgame interview sporting a heavy ice bag on her left knee, is a great example of someone leaving it all on the field. She’s a player who says she’s most comfortable as a forward but has been playing all over for coach Nicky Adams. “It’s wherever I need to be for the team, whatever’s gonna help us best,” Fleury said postgame. “That’s what our whole entire team has done – everyone is out of position, but everyone is willing to learn, so I think that’s great.”

Looking Ahead:

The 2-9-2 Orange will look to keep this momentum in ACC play when they travel to Louisville on Sunday. The Cardinals are 2-6-4 on the year, with a 1-2-1 record in conference play. This series hasn’t been too kind to Syracuse though, with the Orange carrying the baggage of an 0-8-1 all-time record against the Cardinals into Louisville. That match is set tokick off at 1pm on Sunday, October 8th.