Women's Soccer

Unsuccessful set pieces doom Syracuse women’s soccer in loss to Bucknell

Daily Orange File Photo

Set pieces doomed Syracuse on Thursday. It couldn't convert on any and Bucknell converted one for the game-winner.

Twenty-five yards stood between Taylor Bennett and the game-tying goal. With 13 minutes left, Syracuse was down 2-1, but Bennett was lining up for a free kick.

Her strike rocketed past the Bucknell defenders and goalie before nailing the crossbar and bouncing harmlessly away.

“I was just trying to hit the frame like I did against Albany,” Bennett said, “and like we talk about in practice and it was just execution and unfortunately it just didn’t bounce right.”

Syracuse was unable to convert on any of its free kicks or four corners in the game. Bucknell, though, knocked in a corner in the 72nd minute that proved to be the game-winner. The poor play on set pieces led to the Orange’s (3-1-1) 2-1 loss to Bucknell (4-0) at SU Soccer Stadium on Thursday, SU’s first loss of the season.

Syracuse started with its foot on the gas, having three set pieces within the first 17 minutes of the game. The best of the three came in the 17th minute when Bennett, a freshman defender, sent a ball to the box to Carolin Bader who then hit the crossbar. Bader appeared to score, but the referee signaled otherwise.



The Orange finished out the half with two more set pieces, including a long kick from about midfield from Bennett that was easily caught by Bucknell goalie Jessica Ratner.

“Offensively we have been doing a really good job of whipping the ball in,” SU defender Maddie Iozzi said. “We just need to get a piece on it.”

The Orange players were never able to do quite that, but the Bison players were. With a 1-0 lead, Bucknell defender Maddie Dano converted by bending a corner kick into the goal for the eventual game-winner.

“We have been doing really well on the defensive set pieces … I was on the post and it just bent in the upper right hand corner,” Iozzi said.

Bennett’s shot off the crossbar was SU’s last hope for much-needed set piece success. The Orange looked dangerous on them all game, but could not capitalize. Eva Gordon scored in the 72nd minute to break the shutout, but it was too little too late for the Orange.

“Set pieces are all about the service,” Syracuse head coach Phil Wheddon said. “Taylor hits a great ball that comes off the crossbar. I know the wind was an issue so we just have to drive the ball in a little more. We have had good service … for the most part throughout our season so far so we just need to get on the end of those balls.”





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