The Syracuse men’s soccer team always seems to save its worst for last.

In the past two seasons, the Orangemen have compiled an 0-8 record during their final four games.

Syracuse (7-5-2, 3-3-1 Big East) aims to halt that trend at 4 p.m. today against No. 14 Boston College (8-3, 5-2) at Syracuse Soccer Stadium.

In the last four games of 2000, SU fell from near the top of the Big East to eighth, forcing it to play top-seeded and eventual NCAA-champion Connecticut in the first round of the Big East tournament.

In 2001, the Orangemen dropped further, missing the postseason altogether.

‘Every team peaks at some point,’ junior captain Chris Aloisi said. ‘The past two years, we’ve peaked too early and ended up falling apart. This year, we seem to be peaking at the right time.’

If SU plans to compete in the postseason, it better hope Aloisi is right. Sitting in a tie for seventh in the conference with Rutgers, the Orangemen can’t afford the slightest hiccup during their late-season stretch. Georgetown and Providence are one point behind SU.

‘Obviously, record-wise, we’re not where we want to be,’ Aloisi said. ‘But with how we’re playing, we’re exactly where we want to be.’

Although the Orangemen would make the conference tourney if their season ended today, they have one of the most demanding stretches to end the season.

After BC, Syracuse faces Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., and No. 9 UConn in Storrs, Conn. Last year, the Hokies used a midseason victory over the Orangemen to secure the conference’s eighth and final spot. The Huskies downed Syracuse, 3-1, despite one of SU’s better performances of the season.

Foti said the past two seasons’ struggles have resulted from a combination of injuries and over-confidence. Throughout this season, SU players have repeated the same mantra: wins are nothing to get excited over, losses are nothing to get too depressed about.

Last season, SU’s starters spent the latter portions of the year sitting out practices while nursing injuries. Ice packs and wraps were as commonplace as soccer balls beside the SU bench.

Despite losing defender Eric Chapman to a concussion Sept. 21 at Seton Hall, Syracuse has stayed healthy this year.

‘Last year, the tough part of our schedule rolled around, and we had a lot of injuries,’ Foti said. ‘Take those two things, and you’re going to struggle. This year, we seem to be better off.’

Foti hopes the past two seasons’ roller-coaster rides have seasoned the Orangemen for this year’s final stretch. Three of this year’s 11 starters are seniors and four more — Ryan Hickey is only a sophomore, but was a medical redshirt last season — have spent two-plus seasons with SU.

To wrap up a tournament spot, the Orangemen also need to halt another uninspiring trend. Syracuse is 5-1-1 at home but only 2-4-1 away from Syracuse Soer Stadium.

The Boston College contest is the Orangemen’s home finale. For seniors Kevin Boyle, Guido Cristofori and Ryan Hall, the game marks their final home appearance.

‘I’ve always said I’d rather play a good team at home than a bad team on the road,’ Foti said. ‘You have a better chance of your players performing well at home.’

In Boston College, Foti gets his wish. The Eagles handed conference-leader St. John’s its only loss this year. BC features 2000 Big East offensive player of the year Casey Schmidt.

Schmidt ranks second in the conference in shots per game and third in goals per contest.

‘It’s pretty early to have our final home game of the season, but whatever,’ Boyle said. ‘As long as we keep winning games at home, games on the road, I don’t care. Winning means more games.’

Published on October 22, 2002 at 12:00 pm