ONEONTA, N.Y. – Karol Wasielewski lay on the grass in front of Syracuse’s goal, his head down in disbelief. James Madison just scored the game-tying goal, and Wasielewski was the only Orange player with a chance to stop the shot.

SU goalkeeper Robert Cavicchia had left his familiar perch at the net to punch away a crossing pass, leaving Wasielewski alone in front of the goal. But the shot trickled over his lunging foot between the posts.

Less than two minutes later, Cavicchia again was out of position. A Dukes player had the ball in front of an open net. Suddenly, Syracuse senior defenseman Brad Peetoom flew in from the corner to knock the apparent go-ahead goal aside.

Peetoom’s save won’t show up in any box score under his name, but the captain’s effort saved the game for the Orange.

Two important defensive plays – one failed, one converted – led to Syracuse playing to a 1-1 draw with James Madison on Sunday in the second match of the Mayor’s Cup in Oneonta, N.Y. SU beat Seton Hall, 2-1, on Friday night in the first game of the Cup.

Syracuse head coach Dean Foti relies on his defensive unit to make saves and support the goalkeeper. Defensemen practice situations when the goalkeeper leaves the net, so Wasielewski and Peetoom were prepared to do what was necessary.

‘That’s just something they’re expected to do,’ Foti said. ‘When a goalkeeper steps up and out, anytime a defender goes up for a ball, the defenders are supposed to drop down behind to protect the goal line.’

In the first half, James Madison looked significantly slower than the Orange, which held a 1-0 lead at halftime. Almost 12 minutes into the second half, though, a Dukes player ran down a long ball in the corner of the field. Instead of trying to control the ball, he sent a long pass across the middle toward the net. Cavicchia leaped, trying to simply bump the ball away from the goal or out of play to set up a James Madison corner kick.

But Cavicchia couldn’t get his entire fist on the ball, instead knocking the ball directly to James Madison forward CJ Sapong. The junior dribbled forward and took a shot. Wasielewski appeared to recover in time but was a split second too slow while Cavicchia could only watch helplessly from a few yards away.

‘Maybe it was my fault,’ Wasielewski said. ‘Maybe I should’ve been faster making a decision and getting to the ball. I don’t know. Maybe it was Rob’s fault. It’s the whole defense.’

On another James Madison rush at the 32:46 mark of the second half, Syracuse’s defense quickly had a chance to redeem itself. Again, the Dukes seemingly had an open net.

Peetoom swooped in from the side, reaching the ball fast enough to save the goal just in time. Though Wasielewski could’ve prevented the Dukes from scoring, Peetoom ensured the game would remain deadlocked.

‘That (play) was good and all the defenders do well at getting behind when I’m out of position,’ Cavicchia said. ‘That’s what they’re supposed to do, and Brad made a big play.’

As the Orange’s strongest and most experienced position group, the defense needs to consistently make a similar effort around the net for Syracuse to win. Having allowed only two goals through four matches, Syracuse’s defense has thus far met the high expectations.

‘We have a veteran group in the back, and I think that pays dividends over the course of the season’ Foti said. ‘They don’t get rattled. They’re the source of strength for our team. When things get tough, the rest of the team gets confident in the fact these guys are solid back there, and they aren’t going to give up anything foolish.’

Cavicchia feels comfortable trying to make big plays because he trusts the defensive unit will support him when he leaves the net. On Sunday, Wasielewski and Peetoom proved that trust is justified.

One of the tries still resulted in a goal, but it’s that kind of effort that may finally propel the Orange from Big East mediocrity into the national polls.

‘The guys are so good at getting behind me, so it’s like having a second line,’ Cavicchia said. ‘It’s easier as goalkeeper when you know your defense will be behind you. It’s going well when that happens.’

Published on September 9, 2007 at 12:00 pm