FINAL SCORE: No. 3 Syracuse 2, Vermont 1
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – A 42nd-minute goal was the difference, as Vermont (16-4-2, 5-1-1 AE) fell to No. 3 Syracuse (17-2-4, 5-1-2 ACC) 2-1 in the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals on Saturday at SU Soccer Stadium.
 
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COACH'S QUOTE
"First, I want to congratulate our seniors who certainly left the program in a better place, and with a legacy," head coach Rob Dow said. "Second, I want to congratulate Syracuse who played a really good match. They had a really good game plan, and that's a team that can really compete for a national championship."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Syracuse threatened first in the fifth minute when Curt Calov received a pass from inside the 18-yard box. The Orange midfielder took a touch and rifled a kick that narrowly missed wide of the right post.
• Calov would net the game's first goal minutes later when his corner kick found the back of the net. The sophomore lofted a kick that rode the gale force wind over the head of Nate Silveira (3 saves) for the 1-0 lead.
• The Catamounts nearly got the equalizer in the 14th-minute when Alex Nagy found some open space on a run. The fifth-year tried to hit Joe Morrison with a pass near the far post but couldn't connect.
• Yaniv Bazini had a chance for Vermont in the 20th-minute when Sebastian Gebhart hit him near the top of the 18-yard box with a through ball. The redshirt-sophomore labeled a shot for the top left corner that missed high.
• Daniel Pacella pulled the Catamounts to even with his second career goal in the 23rd-minute on a missile from well outside the 18-yard box. The junior's shot froze Syracuse goalkeeper Russell Shealy (0 saves) for the 1-1 equalizer.
• Levonte Johnson put the Orange in front before the end of the first half. The go-ahead marker came in the 42nd-minute when Nathan Opoku made a move inside the 18-yard box and directed a service to Johnson who one-touched the ball home for the 2-1 lead.
• The second half was tightly contested with little space for the Catamounts or Orange to generate scoring opportunities. Nagy had a scoring chance early in the frame when he was able to dribble into the 18-yard box, but sent a kick wide of the goal.
• The Catamounts had four corner kicks in the second frame, but couldn't net the equalizer. Vermont had back-to-back opportunities in the 66th minute, but the ball volleyed around before getting swallowed up by the Syracuse goalkeeper.
• The Orange nearly doubled their lead in the 84th-minute when Opoku broke free on transition, but missed wide right with the scoring opportunity.
• Bazini found Nagy from just outside the six-yard box in the final minutes, but the fifth-year's header couldn't find the back of the net.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Syracuse had the edge in shots, outshooting Vermont 9-6 on the afternoon. The Catamounts had six corner kicks, one more than the Orange.
• Nagy led the UVM attack with three shots on the afternoon. 

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