Men's Soccer

Julian Buescher fronts Syracuse’s offense again in 3-0 win over Bowling Green

The glossy yellow cleats pounded into the ground in the corner, near the sideline. Julian Buescher couldn’t seem to get the shoe to fit quite comfortably. They were an old pair, but ones Buescher was wearing during a game for the first time.

Despite a tired performance saved by a game-winning assist on Oct. 6 and a game that snapped his point streak Saturday, Buescher broke out his old tricks, assisting a goal and scoring another.

“They are not broken in yet, so it takes a little bit,” Buescher said of the cleats, “but it looked like it worked out today. If they don’t break in, it’s fine if it goes like that.”

The midfielder assisted on SU’s first goal, scored the second and his shot spurred the last. No. 16 Syracuse (9-3-1, 2-2-1 Atlantic Coast) rode Buescher while rolling Bowling Green (6-6-1, 0-1 Mid-American), 3-0 on Tuesday night at SU Soccer Stadium.

The three-goal advantage gave SU head coach Ian McIntyre enough leeway to pull a few starters from the game while securing a win in SU’s second-to-last nonconference game.



“He’s an important part of what we’re doing,” McIntyre said. “We’ve challenged him this year to provide us goals and assists, and he’s done that.”

Just five minutes after Buescher hammered his shoe into the grass, he exchanged four passes with midfielder Oyvind Alseth down the left sideline. Forward Ben Polk was sitting a few yards away from the 6-yard box unmarked.

Buescher tamed the last pass from Alseth and whizzed a cross to Polk. The forward lifted his right leg, slapping the ball out of the air and into the back of the net to give SU a 1-0 lead just 15 minutes into the game.

“He was wide open, so if I didn’t pass it he probably would’ve been pissed at me,” Buescher said. “So I’m glad I found him.”

With the Orange leading by one, Andreas Jenssen corralled a pass, fled down the right sideline and crossed the ball into Buescher. The midfielder slowed a bit as his defender kept charging toward the net, creating just enough separation.

Bowling Green goalie Nick Landsberger burst out as the ball flew in, but Jenssen placed the ball perfectly in front of Buescher. Already with an assist, Buescher headed the ball into the net less than two minutes into the second half.

Finally, Buescher tapped the ball around one defender in the 18-yard box and boomed a shot toward the net. The ball ricocheted off two defenders near the goal line, but the ball caromed to Louis Cross, who finished the rebound.

“I just wanted to get in the 6-yard box. Miles (Robinson) was a bit unlucky for not scoring, but I was just there,” Cross said.

After the last goal, McIntyre dotted his bench with starters like Liam Callahan, Chris Nanco and Buescher. Polk had already been pulled before the third goal.

Buescher came off clapping with 11 minutes left in the second half and Jonathan Hagman ran in. As the midfielder came off, a few fans reciprocated Buescher’s clapping.

Three of SU’s last four games are against ranked opponents, including No. 4 Clemson, No. 23 North Carolina State and No. 25 Boston College. While Tuesday may not be a signature win that defines a season, it’s one that can help SU’s NCAA tournament hopes.

At the forefront of SU’s attack was Buescher — where he’s been nearly all season.

“Fighting, scrapping and being a dirty guy on the field,” Buescher joked of his role on the team. “No, chipping in some goals, some assists.”

Coming off a game without either, on Tuesday that shoe fit for Buescher.





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