Going into the final game of the season, Syracuse head coach Phil Wheddon wanted the Orange to do one thing — compete. After 12-straight losses, SU had one last chance to end its season on a positive note and avoid going winless in conference play for the first time since 2002.

“We were at a point of desperation,” Wheddon said.

It took just nine minutes for Clemson to sink Syracuse’s hopes of a different outcome. First, Mariana Speckmaier headed in Sam Staab’s in-swinging corner kick to put Clemson ahead in the fifth minute. Four minutes later, a deflected pass fell to Brooke Power, who dragged a first-time shot off Orange goalkeeper Jordan Harris’ fingertips and into the bottom right corner.

A poor defensive start doomed Syracuse (3-15, 0-10 Atlantic Coast) in a season-ending 3-0 defeat to Clemson (10-8, 6-4) on Thursday night at SU Soccer Stadium. Prior to its season finale, SU had gone all season without conceding twice in the opening 10 minutes of a game. In a contest Wheddon called “massively important”, the Orange did just that.

“It was all about these last 90 minutes,” Wheddon said. “Unfortunately it didn’t come out our way, but that’s sort of been the story of our season.”

No players were made available for comment after the loss.

With just over 80 minutes remaining in its season, an SU offense that ranked tied-for-312th out of 333 in the nation in goals per game (0.65) needed to find the net twice for its first conference point. It didn’t.

When SU had possession in the first half, its moves forward were limited. In the 30th minute, Georgia Allen played Kate Hostage through on goal. It resulted in the Orange’s first corner kick of the half, which Laurel Ness struck into the silver pole holding up the net that sits five feet out of bounds. With two minutes remaining in the half, Ness’ free-kick into the penalty area was canceled by a foul. For the third time this season, Syracuse failed to register a shot in the first half.

Much of SU’s first 45 minutes were spent chasing orange shirts. Clemson held possession masterfully, passing the ball across its backline and occasionally combining with a midfielder. Its players had ample time on the ball and a picking of two or three teammates to pass to. When a gap opened up, the Tigers attacked it. After 45 minutes, the visitors had nine shots, five on target, and four corner kicks.

“We were giving their two center backs too much time on the ball,” Wheddon said about SU’s first-half performance. “We wanted to press them more, and it worked for us. It was effective.”

To open the second half, SU ramped up the pressure. As Wheddon shouted orders from the touchline, the Orange’s midfield and attack pounced whenever Clemson had a poor first touch or an inaccurate pass. In its past two games against No. 6 Virginia and Wake Forest, Syracuse packed all 11 players behind the ball even when it was behind. In Thursday’s second half, it looked as aggressive as it has all season.

While SU’s vigorous defensive effort led to lots of possession, the Orange still struggled to create chances.

Syracuse’s first shot of the game came with 16 minutes remaining, a Laurel Ness long-distance strike that sailed over the crossbar. Four minutes later, Ness whipped in a cross from the left flank that found Meghan Root’s head, but the freshman’s header looped straight into Clemson goalkeeper Sandy MacIver’s arms.

“Apart from the set pieces and at the end of the game when we changed our formation and put three at the back, I thought that our players played well,” Wheddon said. “We had some great periods of possession.”

SU’s best offensive spell of the game lasted less than 10 minutes before the Tigers regained control of possession and the game.

Over the next 10 minutes, Clemson generated five shots, the last of which found the back of the net. In the 86th minute, Alana Hockenhull jumped on a loose ball after a scramble in the box following the Tigers’ ninth corner kick of the night, tapping it in from close range.

After the final whistle, SU’s players and coaches gathered near the halfway line and wrapped their arms around one another as Wheddon addressed them for the final time this season.

“I just wanted to thank the staff for everything they’ve done and thank the players for their hard work,” Wheddon said about his post-game message. “It’s very, very difficult to compete at this level with the amount of injuries that have occurred on a consistent basis.”

After the huddle broke, players hugged before slowly walking off the field. A historically bad season was finally over.

Published on October 25, 2018 at 11:07 pm

Contact David: ddschnei@syr.edu