SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - Syracuse (6-4-2) earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Boston College (5-6-0) on Friday evening at SU Soccer Stadium. Bryson Rodriguez's 66th minute header proved the difference in a tightly contested Atlantic Coast Conference matchup.
The decisive moment came in the 66th minute when Rodriguez connected on a well-placed header off assists from Giona Leibold and Carlos Zambrano. The goal culminated a period of sustained pressure from the Orange attack and ultimately stood as the match-winner.
The first half saw both teams create quality chances while struggling to find the breakthrough. Syracuse's Giona Leibold tested the Eagles' defense with three shots in the opening 45 minutes, including dangerous attempts in the 5th and 15th minutes. Boston College's best opportunity came through Ziad Abdul-Malak, who forced a save in the 3rd minute. The teams entered halftime deadlocked at 0-0 with Syracuse holding a slight 7-5 advantage in shots.
The match opened up considerably after the break, with both sides generating more attacking sequences. Syracuse's persistence finally paid off when Rodriguez headed home the game-winner at 65:31. Boston College responded with increased urgency, as Russell Brown forced three saves from Orange goalkeeper Tomas Hut in the final 20 minutes. The Eagles' late push included dangerous attempts from Dylan Mafong and Marci Killeen, but Syracuse's defense held firm.
The final statistics reflected the match's competitive nature, with Syracuse narrowly outshooting Boston College 15-18. Both goalkeepers were called upon frequently, with each making five saves. The Eagles earned seven corner kicks to Syracuse's six, while the visitors picked up the match's lone yellow card when Andrej Borak was cautioned in the 87th minute.
Syracuse goalkeeper Tomas Hut earned his fourth clean sheet of the season with a commanding five-save performance, including crucial stops in the 74th and 79th minutes as Boston College pressed for an equalizer. For the Eagles, Russell Brown created consistent danger after coming on as a substitute, recording three shots on target in the second half.
The tactical battle shifted notably after Rodriguez's goal, with Syracuse dropping deeper to protect their lead while Boston College pushed numbers forward. The Eagles' increased pressure led to several promising set-piece opportunities, but the Orange defense, anchored by Tim Brdaric and Garrett Holman, maintained their organization through seven minutes of added time.
Both teams showcased their depth through strategic substitutions, with Syracuse making particularly effective use of their bench. The introduction of Bright Nutornutsi and Carlos Zambrano at halftime helped the Orange establish better possession in dangerous areas, ultimately contributing to the winning goal.
The victory strengthens Syracuse's position in the ACC standings while dealing a setback to Boston College's conference campaign. The match demonstrated both teams' ability to execute their tactical plans, with Syracuse's moment of quality in front of goal proving the difference in an otherwise evenly matched contest.
The Eagles will look to bounce back when they host Virginia Tech next Friday, while Syracuse travels to Louisville for their next conference matchup on Tuesday. Both teams showed enough quality to suggest they'll remain competitive factors in the ACC race as the season enters its crucial final month.