Syracuse, N.Y. — Louis Cross’ goal early in the second half was the difference as Syracuse University edged Dartmouth 2-1 in a NCAA men’s soccer tournament second-round game Sunday afternoon at the SU Soccer Stadium.
The sixth-seeded Orange (14-5-3) advances to third round, where it hosts the winner of Sunday night’s Seattle-UCLA contest at 1 p.m. next Sunday.
Ben Polk also tallied for SU, in the first half. Julian Buescher assisted on both Orange scores. The game was Syracuse’s first in the tournament after it earned a first-round bye.
Buescher set up Cross’ goal with a beautiful spin move along the right goal line extended. That created an opening out front for Cross, and with Dartmouth goalie Stefan Cleveland out of position Cross easily tipped Buescher’s pass into an open left side with 35:11 left in the second half.
The Orange dominated play in the first half, controlling possession in the Big Green end of the field. But that only paid off with a 1-1 tie at intermission, courtesy of a score by Polk at the 32:15 mark.
Polk took a pass from Buescher on the left side of the Dartmouth goal and cranked in a left-footed shot from about six yards out past Cleveland to draw the match even. The score was Polk’s 11th of the season.
Despite minimal time in the SU end, Dartmouth struck first for a short-lived lead. Matt Greer captured a turnover and looped a ball to Justin Donawa about 16 yards out to the right of Orange goalie Hendrik Hilpert.
Donawa controlled the bouncer and then volleyed a shot into the left side of the net at the 29:12 mark.
