Syracuse opened its exhibition schedule with a 2-1 win against Fordham at SU Soccer Stadium on Sunday.

The Orange used two first-half goals and strong performances by redshirt sophomore goalies Andrew Coughlin and Matt Stith to edge the Rams.

Sophomore midfielder Stefanos Stamoulacatos scored the game’s first goal in the 12th minute when freshman forward Emil Ekblom beat a defender and found Stamoulacatos in the middle of the field. Stamoulacatos tucked it away past Fordham’s Sean Brailey.

Twenty-five minutes later, junior defender Jordan Murrell found junior midfielder Nick Perea for the game’s second goal. Perea finished the job with his head after Murrell sailed in a long free kick. Murrell finished last season with seven assists, tied for sixth in the Big East.

Fordham’s Casper Gimand scored off a Tommy Granot corner kick in the 62nd minute, but SU held on for the win.

Coughlin started the game and collected one save, and Stith replaced him for the tail end of the second half.

SU is back in action Tuesday against the Ryerson University of Canada. The Ryerson Rams will visit SU Soccer Stadium for a 7 p.m. start.

Compiled by Jesse Dougherty, assistant copy editor, [email protected]

 

Published on August 19, 2013 at 9:55 pm