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After winning possession on the right side of Syracuse’s offensive zone, Ava Uribe sprinted down the side of the goalkeeper’s box ready to release a shot on net.

But as she cut toward the middle, she caught a glimpse of Ashley Rauch parked in front of the goal. Rauch stood her ground as the Bearcats’ backline tried to force her out. Uribe instantly read the play and fired a low pass to Rauch’s feet, hoping she would finish off the tip-in. Without much adjustment, Rauch finished the shot and put SU ahead.

Rauch’s 31st-minute goal is all Syracuse (5-1-1, Atlantic Coast Conference) would need as it took down Binghamton (1-3-2, Atlantic East Conference) 1-0 Thursday. After a dominant first half with their high press, the Orange let off the gas in the second half. But Shea Vanderbosch’s key saves held off the Bearcats to secure the win.

Unlike most of its games in 2024 so far, SU came out fast in the first half and set the pace early with an aggressive press. The constant attack forced Bearcats goalkeeper Kaitlyn Williams to be sharp in net.

In just the seventh minute, SU’s pressure resulted in its first scoring chance. In a one-on-one battle for the ball at midfield, Kate Murphy used a slide tackle to kick the ball away from Anna Buckwalter and over to Julia Dening. Dening then passed the ball to Maya McDermott who put it on goal, but Williams dove to the right and denied the attempt.

In the 22nd minute, Rauch used a free kick opportunity to float the ball from midfield toward the net through the crowd. The ball was tipped mid-air over to Uribe as she sprinted toward the right side of the goal. But again Williams was one step ahead, as she quickly jumped on the ball to shut down the opportunity.

Moments later, a Binghamton turnover on the right side of the box forced the ball loose and it once again found Uribe in front. She wasted no time launching a strike from midfield toward the top right corner of the goal, but with a jump of desperation, Williams got just enough of the ball to punch it out of play.

After nearly 31 consecutive minutes of pressure from the Orange, Rauch finally broke through and put SU ahead 1-0 to close the first frame.

Now playing from in front, Syracuse began to ease up on its press and play more conservatively throughout the second half. This allowed Binghamton to create numerous midfield turnovers that led to golden opportunities down the stretch.

In the 60th minute, the Bearcats were given their best chance yet. While in stride through the middle of the Syracuse end, Buckwalter received a pass from midfield by Alex Marsteller. She quickly corralled the ball, moving it from chest to feet as she worked her way around two SU defenders.

Buckwalter released a shot toward the top right corner of the goal that seemed destined for the back of the net. Though the shot was too high for Vanderbosch to stop, SU’s goalkeeper was bailed out as the ball glanced off the crossbar and out of play.

As time continued off the clock in the 77th minute, the Bearcats continued to throw everything they had at Vanderbosch and the Orange.

Alexis Worrell grabbed possession of the ball on a throw-in and after working her way to the left side of the 18-yard box, she found an open lane and fired a quick strike toward the Syracuse net. But Vanderbosch shut the door as she leaped to her left to make a stellar diving stop.

Rauch did suffer a late injury after an incidental collision, but Syracuse’s defense remained composed under pressure in the final seconds to secure its fifth clean sheet of 2024.

Published on September 5, 2024 at 10:44 pm

Contact Matthew: mgray06@syr.edu