The players see it. They realize the season is rapidly slipping away, and that the next loss could be the backbreaker that ends it all. They also recognize that they cannot let the troubles of the past affect their immediate future.

But for the Syracuse men’s soccer team, the hard part is figuring out just how to do that.

‘Heading into the rest of the season, we just have to put these losses behind us and move on,’ goalkeeper Ryan Jones said after last Wednesday’s 3-1 loss to Villanova. ‘We can’t afford not to pick up points in these games.’

But after Saturday’s game at No. 12 Louisville, the Orange came away with the same amount of points it had when it entered the match. The continual inefficiency of the Syracuse offense once again haunted the team against the dominant Cardinals.

Syracuse (2-10, 1-6 Big East) will look to salvage what is left of its season when in-state rival Hartwick visits SU Soccer Stadium Tuesday at 7.pm. The contest will be the Orange’s first non-conference game since Bucknell on Sept. 13.

The game against Bucknell nearly a month ago took place during the Mayor’s Cup, which is held at Hartwick every year. One month later, the Orange faces the annual host of that tournament.

What could be construed as nothing more than an interesting footnote can actually become an advantage for Syracuse. Hartwick is not just a random non-conference opponent. There is history between these two teams (they have met 32 times, with Hartwick leading the all-time series, 16-11-5) and the Orange has seen Hartwick play in person as recently as a month ago.

The advantage of seeing a team execute its game plan right in front of your eyes could translate onto the field Tuesday night for Syracuse.

‘We went down to their tournament and saw them play,’ Jones said. ‘So we know what to expect.’

But preparation and planning is only part of the battle for Syracuse, as the team continues to try to dig itself out of the massive hole it created in the first half of the season. Studying opponents and preparing itself for games has not been the Orange’s problem this season. Execution is where it has all gone wrong.

Saturday’s contest against Louisville showcased the Orange’s disconnect between preparation and on-the-field play. Syracuse hit the road to face the No. 12 team in the country, and managed to go into halftime trailing by only one goal.

The only problem is that Louisville did not score the goal. Syracuse handicapped itself by registering an own goal, giving the Cardinals an advantage they would ultimately not need (Louisville scored three times in the second half).

Those kind of mental mistakes have cost the Orange all season. Failure to capitalize on scoring opportunities, poor passes and unwise offensive decisions have plagued the team for the majority of its schedule.

After Syracuse’s dominating 3-0 win over Rutgers last week, the team tried to build off its momentum by continuing to employ the blueprint it had used to beat the Scarlet Knights. That plan failed against both Villanova and Louisville.

Hartwick, too, will be a different opponent than Rutgers and all the other Big East foes the Orange has faced this season. If Syracuse wants to start climbing out of the quicksand, a fresh game plan may be in order.

After the loss to Villanova, the players hung their heads, unsure of what to think about such a devastating loss. Senior midfielder Kenny Caceros was at a loss for words.

But his fellow senior teammate, midfielder Elliott Townsend, had only a simple solution to offer.

‘We’ve got to have a good couple of days of training,’ Townsend said. ‘We’ve just got to keep working hard.’

azmeola@syr.edu

Published on October 12, 2009 at 12:00 pm