Boston College Athletics
Men's Soccer Opens Season With 5-1 Win
August 31, 2001 | Men's Soccer
Aug. 31, 2001
NEWTON, Mass. - Sophomore Adam Pfeifer and junior Casey Schmidt, the 2001 Preseason BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, each scored two goals as the Boston College men's soccer team defeated Syracuse, 5-1, in the season opener for both teams before 617 fans at the Newton Campus Soccer Field on Friday afternoon. With the win, BC opens the season with a 1-0-0 record overall and in BIG EAST play, while Syracuse begins the season with a 0-1-0 mark.
Pfeifer put BC on the board in the ninth minute as he collected a pass from Martin Cantillo and beat several defenders at the top of the goal box before finding the back of the net. It was Pfeifer's first career goal as he accumulated six assists as a freshman in 2000. Schmidt added to the lead in the 23rd minute when he stole the ball from a congregation of Syracuse defenders at the top of the box and netted the goal.
Syracuse threatened in the 30th minute with a prime scoring chance when John Andrade beat the Eagles defense and came in one-on-one with Eagle keeper Danny Caruso, who came out of the box to make the sprawling save and preserve the lead.
BC extended its lead to 3-0 at halftime when Bobby Thompson connected on a 30-yard free kick. Chris Cleary was pulled down on a driving attack to draw the kick. Paul Chase nearly gave BC a 4-0 lead in the 50th minute when his shot from 22 yards out clipped the crossbar and deflected out of play.
Syracuse got its lone score in the 53rd minute when Kirk Johnson recovered the ball in a defensive scramble at the left post and tapped it into the goal.
Schmidt and Pfeifer struck again in the second half to bring the Eagles to the final 5-1 win. In the 84th minute, U.S. National Under-18 Team member Bill Arnault found Schmidt at the goal's doorstep for the score. Pfeifer also assisted on the play. In the 90th minute, Pfeifer struck again when he was left alone at the right post as Thompson found him for the score. Kirt Dorsett also was credited with an assist on the goal.
Caruso, making his first career start, made five saves in net for the Eagles in the win. Syracuse's David Rabazzi also made five saves as BC outshot the Orangemen 20-14.
The Eagles will next face St. Francis (NY) on Wednesday, Sept. 5 at 3 p.m. at the Newton Campus Soccer Field.
Syracuse (0-1-0, 0-1-0) 0 1 - 1 Boston College (1-0-0, 1-0-0) 3 2 - 5
Scoring - BC: Adam Pfeifer (Martin Cantillo) 8:48, BC: Casey Schmidt (unassisted) 22:26, BC: Bobby Thompson (unassisted) 42:59, SU: Kirk Johnson (unassisted) 52:10, BC: Schmidt (Bill Arnault, Pfeifer) 83:50, BC: Pfeifer (Thompson, Kirt Dorsett).
Shots - BC 20, SU 14
Goalkeeper saves - BC: Danny Caruso 5, SU: David Rabazzi 5.
Corner kicks - BC: 7, SU: 5.
Fouls - BC: 9, SU: 4.
*******
BC's five goals marked the team's highest offensive output since the Eagles posted five goals on Sept. 30, 1994 against Pittsburgh.
Pfeifer's five points in the game gave him one fewer point than his total 2000 season output. He also led all Eagles in scoring in the team's preseason with two goals and one assist.
Schmidt's two goals marked his first multiple goal game since Oct. 24, 1999 against Sacred Heart.
The Eagles welcomed four new players into the starting lineup: goalkeeper Danny Caruso, left back Paul Chase, center back Guy Melamed and midfielder Bill Arnault.
