Bayer Leverkusen’s 51-Game Unbeaten Run Ends in Europa League Final
An Ademola Lookman hat trick downed Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final on Wednesday as their unbeaten came to an end. The final played in Dublin was Atalanta’s first-ever European final appearance, and they performed in their maiden year admirably to bring the trophy to Bergamo.
Ademola Lookman made history when he became the first player to bag three goals in a Europa League final. The former Everton and RB Leipzig man produced a man-of-the-match performance to award Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini his first trophy in his career and the oldest manager to win the Europa League after Jose Luis Mendilibar won last year’s edition with Sevilla.
Leverkusen’s tactic of pressing from the front was nullified by Gasperini’s men, causing Alono’s side to make an uncomfortable start to the match. Their discomfort became apparent when Lookman bagged his first goal of the night after Exequiel Palacios was caught napping at the back post to give Atalanta the lead. Another Leverkusen error led to the second goal when a stray pass fell at the feet of the Nigerian yet again, curling it around Kovár in goal to make it a brace on the night.
Leverkusen had spells in possession but never looked like scoring. The German side’s reputation to make comeback late in games meant Atalanta couldn’t rest on their laurels, but the match was put to bed when Lookman tucked away his third and a hat trick to bring home Atalanta’s first major trophy for the first time in more than 60 years.
Atalanta’s rise in the last seven to eight years hasn’t gone under the radar, especially after their Champions League run in 2020 when they reached the quarternfinals, eliminated by PSG in the one-game knockout system due to the pandemic. Yet, they have reached the pinnacle after victory in Dublin. Their run to glory featured emphatic quarter-final and semi-final wins over Liverpool and Marseille respectively.
Gasperini reiterated that their journey to the Europa League trophy makes the celebrations more special.
“That was perhaps our peak in recent years,” Gasperin said. “We’ve won it against top teams. We beat Sporting, who are the Portuguese champions. We played Liverpool when they were top of the Premier League. We played Marseille who are a very good side, and tonight we beat the German champions. To have beaten such great sides adds gloss to our achievement.”
Lookman, who came through the ranks at Charlton Athletic said that his form in recent years has elevated, capped off by tonight’s performance.
“These past two years I’ve been able to take my game to a whole new level,” Lookman added. “Maybe it could have come earlier, but it has come now. But this is just the beginning. I hope for more nights like this and to just keep getting better and better.”
This loss stopped the clock on Leverkusen’s unbeaten streak that stretched back to May of 2023 when they lost 3-0 against VFL Bochum in the Bundesliga. Leverkusen were seeking their first European Cup for the first time since 1988 when they won the UEFA Cup, which is now the Europa League.
They claimed their first-ever German title in style, going the season unbeaten and were on course for a historic treble before Atalanta intervened. They still can make history by completing an unbeaten double when they face second-tier Kaiserslautern in the German Cup final in Berlin.
“Normally it happens earlier in the season, but when it happens in such a big game, it hurts. But we have to use this pain in a positive way — it’s football, the normality is not to lose the first game in the 52nd game,” Alonso added.
Dark Horses Around Europe Defying the Odds
The 2023-2024 season across Europe brought forth surprise packages that took their leagues by storm. Europe’s top five leagues tend to have the same teams winning their respective leagues and finishing in the coveted top four positions that see them qualify for the Champions League, Europe’s premier club competition.
Nevertheless, from time to time, some clubs defy the odds, making history in the process with their performances throughout the season. This season in particular, Europe’s top five leagues which consist of teams in England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France have had teams who have been a revelation.
Aston Villa – England
On October 21, 2022, Aston Villa sacked Steven Gerrard following a dismal 3-0 loss to Fulham at Craven Cottage leaving the club dangling just above the relegation zone. He was replaced by Unai Emery three days later, with the Spaniard leaving his post at Villarreal to take charge of the Villains.
His first game was a 3-1 success over Manchester United which was a precursor for what was to be expected at Villa Park. He led the club to 7th that season, clinching a European spot for the following season.
The first game of the 2023/2024 season saw them suffer a heavy defeat at the hands of Newcastle. Despite this defeat, Sir Alex Ferguson declared that their performance would be enough to be the surprise package of the season and so it has proved. Emery and his men challenged at the top area of the league for the entire season.
A league double over second-placed Arsenal, a dominant 1-0 victory at home against champions Manchester City and a 6-1 drubbing over high-flying Brighton solidified them as a team that would be difficult to beat. They maintained their form throughout the season, ending the season in 4th and managing to bring Champions League football for the first time since the 1982/83 season.
Girona – Spain
Girona was promoted to the top flight of Spanish football in the 2021/22 season after a three-year absence. Favorites to go back down, they finished 10th that season, strengthening the squad with the shrewd additions such as Artem Dovbyk for 8 million euros, Daley Blind on a free transfer and Savio plus Eric Garcia on loan. They started the season on fire, picking up 9 wins from 11 with their only defeat coming at the hands of eventual champions Real Madrid.
They continued their impressive run of form throughout the season, with a memorable 4-3 win against Atletico Madrid, completing a league double over Barcelona winning 4-2 on both occasions and a 5-1 statement win over Sevilla being their season’s highlight.
With one game remaining, they are confirmed to finish third and a spot in next season’s Champions League for the first time in their 94-year history. Club manager Michel and co will hope to go far in the competition, making their small stadium, Estadi Montilivi, a place where opponents would find it difficult to play.
Leverkusen – Germany
For 10 consecutive years, Bayern Munich have been the kings of Germany, dominating the league season after season. Last season, their streak almost ended when Borussia Dortmund needed a final-day win to take the mantle away from the Bavarians. However, a draw and a last-minute Jamal Musiala winner meant a 10th title in a row for Bayern.
However, Bayer Leverkusen had other ideas to disrupt the grip Bayern had on the ‘Meisterschale’ this time around. Xabi Alonso and Leverkusen won 15 from the first 18 matches which propelled them to the top of the table.
With teams like Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig being in similar positions over the years, many questioned if Leverkusen would be able to keep up their performances to be champions come May. Yet, their grit and determination to grind out wins had Europe taking notes. What has been synonymous with this team is their ability to snatch draws from the hands of defeat.
Bayer Leverkusen has subsequently gone on to win the Bundesliga, doing it in style by going the season unbeaten and is two games away from going the entire season unbeaten in all competitions.
Stuttgart – Germany
Last season, Stuttgart defeated Hamburg in the Bundesliga relegation/promotion playoffs to secure a new season in the league. Fast Forward 12 months and they will be preparing to play in Europe’s premier competition for the first time since the 2009/10 season. Led by Sebastian Hoeneß, the German have transformed a club who have been battling relegation in the past few seasons.
Serhou Guirassy has been the club’s shining light notching 28 goals, the league’s second top goal scorer behind Harry Kane.
With Bayern collapsing on the final matchday to Hoffenheim and their rampant 4-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach, Die Roten finished second place above Bayern Munich. This means they’ll have a chance at a trophy at the start of next season in the German Super Cup, played between the league’s first and second-placed teams the previous season.
From relegation playoffs to Champions League nights, the rise has been remarkable
FC Heidenheim – Germany
FC Heidenheim’s first season in the Bundesliga was something to be remembered. This season was their first appearance in the top flight and they took the league by storm. Their memorable 3-2 comeback win after being two goals down was the highlight of their season, cementing their place as a Bundesliga outfit.
Beating already relegated FC Köln on the final day of the season put them in contention for European football.
If Bayer Leverkusen wins the DFB Pokal, Heidenheim will play in the Europa Conference League.
With Leverkusen playing in the Europa League final and Borussia Dortmund playing in the Champions League final, a win for both German teams would place Heidenheim in the Europa League pot for next season.
With or without European football, the work that Frank Schmidt has done in the club’s first top flight season with limited resources is commendable.
Bologna – Italy
Bologna has been Serie A’s perennial mid-table club, with their highest finish coming last season after the club’s promotion in 2015. They finished 9th under the tutelage of Thiago Motta, which was a sign for things to come.
With the club taking the league by storm this season, consistent performances and results meant they stood a chance of playing in the Champions League. And with two games to spare, Bologna made history, finishing in the Champions League spots and a chance to play in the competition for the first time in 60 years.
Joshua Zirkzee switched to the Italian outfit in 2022 from Bayern Munich and has been their standout player. He leads the club in goals and assists, with top European clubs circling the 22-year-old.
Clubs are also eyeing up the signature of their manager, Thiago Motta after taking a mid-table club to the holy grail of the Champions League. The Bologna faithful will be hoping to have their star man and their manager at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara to lead their club against Europe’s elite.
Stade Brestois – France
At the beginning of the season, Stade Brestois’s manager Eric Roy said in a press conference that his team would be playing in the Champions League next season. With his team’s odds on favorite to be relegated, his comments would’ve taken many by surprise.
Yet, his prediction was realized and conquered with his side finishing third in final day drama. With LOSC Lille conceding a 93rd-minute equalizer to Nice and Brest’s 3-0 away win over Toulouse, they snuck into an automatic Champions League spot. The club has the second smallest stadium in the league and a wage budget of five per cent that of Paris Saint Germain’s.
Stade Brestois’s highest finish in the league was 8th which was achieved over 40 years ago and smashing that record in style puts them as one of the biggest surprise packages in Europe.
EFL Championship Beckons for Oxford United
Oxford United will be a Championship team next season as they defeated Bolton Wanderers 2-0 in the League One playoff final at Wembley. Joshua Murphy’s first-half brace was enough to see the U’s end their 25-year wait to play in the second tier of English football.
The club last played in the old First Division in 1999 which was rebranded to the EFL Championship and has been on a downward spiral since. They were relegated from the Football League in 2006, the pinnacle of their fall. It took the club four years to be promoted back to the Football League which they achieved under the guidance of now Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder.
They moved one step up the pyramid in 2016 and have been plying their trade in the third tier since. The club had a chance to be promoted to the Championship in 2020 but a 2-1 loss at the hands of Wycombe Wanderers delayed their progress. Yet, four years later the U’s have gone one step further to being a Championship team under Desmond Buckingham.
Buckingham took over Oxford United on November 16 after Liam Manning left to take over as Bristol City boss. Second in the league when he took charge, Buckingham experienced a mixed run of form until the end of the season but maintained a spot in a bid for promotion finishing 5th. Buckingham, a boyhood Oxford fan, led United past Peterborough in the semi-finals and then defeated Bolton under the Wembley arch.
Oxford United were winless against The Trotters in the regular season, drawing goalless at home and a heavy 5-0 defeat away just over two months ago. Fast forward to Saturday’s game and they’ve broken that winless run in style. Buckingham marveled over the club’s historic achievement.
“We didn’t want them to dictate the whole game. We either had to sit back and weather a storm which is never good to come here; We’ve got 35,000 people who come to watch us play Football, so we have to be brave and these are the moments where to need to step up and trust yourself and back yourself to do things, and I’m delighted with what I’ve just seen.”
Josh Murphy was named man of the match on the day. Murphy scored 8 goals and provided 4 assists this season, but his two against Bolton were his most important contribution since joining the club. He celebrated history with the motivation from his twin brother Jacob, who currently plays in the Premier League for Newcastle United.
“My brother keeps telling me ‘It’s your time to shine’, and I think I’ve done that today. This time last year, I got told to find another club, and now I’ve just got the club promoted.”
Bolton Wanderers who have been prolific in front of goal this season scoring 121 goals in all competitions were unable to find a shot on target. The Trotters will have to endure another season in League One having last played in the Championship in the 2018/19 season.
Oxford United will join Portsmouth and Derby County in the second tier next season, ending their wait to bring back Championship football to Kassam Stadium.
Ipswich Town One Game Away from the Premier League
Ipswich Town are now a point away from reaching the Premier League for the first time in 24 years. Their 2-1 away win over Coventry City put them three points clear of third-placed Leeds United with a game left to play. The Tractor Boys won their first game in five after a barren run of form. Yet, their win over Coventry put them within touching distance of promotion, hosting Huddersfield Town on Saturday who are all but relegated.
After being promoted from League 1 last season, Ipswich were not expected to be vying for promotion. However, the loan deals of Omari Hutchinson, Jeremy Sarmiento and Kieffer Moore bolstered their prospects of going up. Leif Davis proved to be a standout player throughout the season, notching up 18 assists from left-back.
Leeds face a tricky home tie to Southampton who are pushing for promotion themselves albeit through the playoffs. Though Leeds have a better goal difference than Ipswich, they must beat the Saints at Elland Road to be in any contention for automatic promotion.
Kieran McKenna is looking to lead Ipswich to England’s Premier competition for the first time since 2002. Their recent run of games featured a common trend of failing to take their chances and failing to capitalize on any slip-ups from Leeds.
Their most recent game vs Hull City saw them surrender the lead three times in a 3-3 thriller in a weekend where Leeds lost to league strugglers Queens Park Rangers 4-0.
Yet, they took full advantage of this time.
Kieffer Moore put the visitors in the lead after just eight minutes. However, a Haji Wright cracker midway through the second half found its way past Václav Hladky. But they weren’t level for long as Cameron Burgess’s 69th-minute goal clinched all three points for McKenna’s men.
Kieran McKenna said that all concentration is on Saturday as they look to finalize their promotion.
“It’s an emotional night, it’s a great night to enjoy with our supporters. We know the significance of tonight won’t be determined until Saturday, and that’s our next job and our next focus now.”
With Leicester City already gaining promotion to the Premier League, one more automatic promotion spot is up for grabs. Ipswich Town will be looking to take full advantage when they take on Huddersfield Town on Saturday at 7:30 E.T. with all games playing simultaneously.
Bayern Munich and Real Madrid Battle to a Draw in Champions League First Leg
The first leg of the Champions League semi-finals between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid ended all square with the second leg to be played in Madrid next week. Both teams came into this match off the back of defeating English oppositions Arsenal and Manchester City respectively in their quarterfinal games. Bayern Munich saw their 12-year hold of the German title escape from their grasp with Bayer Leverkusen winning this season’s edition. Real Madrid on the other hand is 11 points clear ahead of second-placed Barcelona in La Liga with five matches remaining. Therefore, the goal for both teams is to lay their hands on the big-eared trophy.
Between both teams, they have 20 Champions League combined. The last time they faced each other in the competition was also in the semi-finals, with Real Madrid winning 4-3 on aggregate. With no Cristiano Ronaldo or Robert Lewandowski to lead the line for Real Madrid or Bayern respectively, each team had players that could make a difference.
Toni Kroos’s defense-splitting pass to Vinicius broke the deadlock midway through the first half after complete domination from the home team. Bayern had chances of their own but weren’t clinical in their finishing. However, in the second half, they started on fire with Leroy Sane and Harry Kane scoring goals four minutes apart to give Bayern the lead on the night. Bayern failed to see out the game to carry a lead to Spain, as a Vinicius penalty put the game back at square one for the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The spotlight was on Jamal Musiala and Jude Bellingham, two youngsters who have been performing at the highest level for their respective clubs. The two who were a part of England’s under-15 set up together represented their clubs on the biggest stage in a semi-final. Yet, it was Musiala who was the most impactful of the two. The German international completed the most dribbles and won a penalty.
Harry Kane, the scorer of Bayern’s second goal expressed his disappointment with the result but wants to put things right in the second leg.
“Whenever you’re 2-1 up in a big game and you don’t come away with a win of course you come away a little disappointed. But overall 2-2, basically nil-nil going there next week, big game, semi-final at the Bernabeu that’s what you play Football for.”
Bayern Munich play Stuttgart away in the Bundesliga and Real Madrid face Cadiz at home this weekend. Los Blancos could be crowned champions of Spain as early as this weekend should they beat Cadiz and Barcelona drop points vs surprise package Girona away. The second leg of the Champions League will be at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, May 1st.
Sheffield United Relegated from the Premier League
After only a year back in the top flight, Sheffield United has been relegated to the Championship. Their demotion was confirmed on Saturday after their 5-1 loss to Newcastle. Conceding goals has been a familiar occurrence, letting in 97, a record in a 38-game season with three matches remaining.
The Blades began the season under Paul Heckingbottom and losing Iliman Ndiaye to Marseille and Sander Berge to Burnley put them in a fragile position at the start of the season. They began the season with nine losses in 10 matches. One of those losses included an 8-0 home drubbing at the hands of Newcastle.
Their first win came in a 2-1 win over Wolves in November at Bramall Lane, hoping this would change their season’s fortunes. But two losses from their next three matches saw the league’s first managerial casualty with Heckingbottom dismissed. Chris Wilder, who led the Blades to their highest-ever Premier League finish in the 2019/20 season made a return to his boyhood club
Yet, two wins from the next 21 games yielded no change. Saturday’s defeat to Newcastle brought an end to their top-flight status. Blades defender Jack Robinson says after the club’s relegation from the Premier League, their focus is on next season.
“We’ll look back on all the games and how we’ve played and where we’ve went wrong and we’ll be able to put that right pre-season. It’s going to be another tough season but the aim next year will be to come straight back up.”
Sheffield United’s next game is away to fellow relegation side Burnley who themselves will be looking for a result to stay in the Premier League.
Diaz Bonilla Scores Twice to Lead Orange Past Wolfpack
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse men’s soccer hosted NC State in the first round of the 2023 ACC Tournament. Graduate student Daniel Diaz Bonilla scored his first two goals for Syracuse in a 5-0 victory for the Orange.
Gabriel Mikina got Syracuse on the board in the 25th minute with a strike that found its way past NC State goalkeeper Samuel Terranova. With just five minutes to go before halftime, Diaz Bonilla got his first of the game to double the Orange lead.
NC State responded well coming out of the locker room, but the persistence from the Orange was too much to handle as Felipe D’Agostini buried a goal in the 71st minute.
“The second goal from Daniel really kind of let us breathe a little bit going into halftime,” said head coach Ian McIntyre. “Now, I think we were a little bit sluggish and sloppy to start the second half, but then that third goal really calmed us down and then the game opened up nicely.”
Syracuse didn’t take long to find the back of the net again. Just two minutes after D’Agostini’s goal, Jackson Glenn’s back-post header gave the Orange their fourth goal of the night. For Glenn, a senior who saw limited action in the regular season, it was his first career goal.
As NC State tried to salvage something from the match, the high press from Syracuse forced an error, and Diaz Bonilla tapped the ball in for his second of the game. He had not scored yet this season, but his dad saw the cards on the table.
“My dad sent me a text two days ago saying ‘Things can change in a moment, just prepare for your moment,’” said Diaz Bonilla. “That’s kind of been my mentality all season, just preparing for a chance, and I was fortunate enough to get on the field and put away the chances when they came.”
The moment for Diaz Bonilla was a memorable one, and it was smiles all around for his coach as well.
“We knew we were getting not just a good player, but an outstanding player,” said McIntyre. “He’s the hardest working guy in our team, and I could not be happier for Daniel.”
Sophomore goalkeeper Jaheim Wickham picked up the clean sheet in his first ever postseason match. He recorded two saves in the second half for the Orange.
Syracuse is back in action Sunday afternoon in Charlottesville for its ACC Tournament quarterfinal matchup with #3 Virginia. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m..
“Newhouse Definitely Prepared Us”
Several Newhouse Master’s students upon finishing their Broadcast and Digital Journalism graduate program have been accepted to take their talents to local news stations across the country to report on NFL training camp for their respective city.
Of the ten that were selected, one was a division one student-athlete. Excelling on the field and in the classroom for the Lehigh Mountain Hawks, Sydney Staples arrived on the campus of Syracuse University in July of 2022 to embark on her S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications journey.
As a four year-letter winner for the Lehigh University Women’s soccer team, Staples decided to pursue her soccer career from a different lens.
It was difficult when the season rolled around to not be doing a preseason especially being at a different school than her undergrad, Staples said. “I’ll always think what if, but I also know I’m very happy. I’m very happy that I fully committed myself to the academic side of things.”
Being a student-athlete taught Staples how to juggle and take on an incredible schedule, she said. From live reporting for NCC News to calling division one men’s and women’s soccer games for ACC network, Staples has grown throughout her one year on the hill to where she is now.
Currently covering the Green Bay Packers for WFRV Local 5 News, serving Green Bay, Fox Valley, Lake Shore, and the Northwoods, Wisconsin, Staples has noticed many similarities from Newhouse to the professional setting.
“Newhouse definitely prepared us,” Staples said. “Everything that Professor Axe taught us, yup, I can definitely notice a difference now between a good question and a not so great question.” It’s Staples’ connection with the athlete in how she can relate to the type of interview the media conducts, specifically at camp.
Staples says, at Syracuse the sports information director picked two to three people, brought them to the podium post practice or postgame for interviews. In Green Bay, media scrums include microphones from other outlets pressed against each other with camera lights pointed toward the interviewee, ready to ask and answer questions from both sides.
Seeing the sweat on athletes’ faces from practice just before, Staples can remind herself it’s more than football. “I can relate to asking questions knowing that there are so much more than that to x’s and o’s,” Staples said. “I love going to the practices, interacting with players and I like the grind. Working with professional athletes has been amazing.”
Having the experience thus far of covering NFL football has made Staples appreciate the sport even more. She said it’s been really cool to get out of her comfort zone and cover a different sport.
For the future, Staples says being around soccer on the media side of the ball is a goal of hers. “If there is one thing I know about whatever job I take moving forward and for life, I want to be involved in soccer as much as possible,” Staples said.
Whether that is continuing to call games at the collegiate level, or pursuing an opportunity with the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Staples said she would love to be around the sport for years to come.
Nothing more left to prove, men’s soccer is the national champion
Cary, N.C. — Lets set the scene. It is 6:00 p.m. and a cool 45 degrees in North Carolina. There is pryo going off behind you as “The Star-Spangled Banner” echoes throughout WakeMed Soccer Park. You’re standing on the pitch getting ready to play in your first ever National Championship. That is exactly what the Syracuse Orange went through on Monday night.
The Orange were back in the College Cup for the first time since 2015, when they lost to Clemson in the semi-finals. That game would end in a scoreless tie and be decided on penalty kicks. This script would get a few altercations in Cary, including the team the Orange would take on.
The Indiana Hoosiers were making their recording-breaking 17th appearance in the National Championship, one of the most impressive runs that the soccer world has seen. Entering the game, the Hoosiers had not given up a goal in any tournament game. 360 minutes, zero goals. That would be because of JT Harms in net, making nine saves through the first four games for the Hoosiers.
The Orange would break the shutout streak for the Hoosiers, scoring when Nathan Opoku would make some pretty moves inside the box and take a shot with his left foot, finding the back of the net. Make it 1-0 Orange in the 24th minute.
About eight minutes later, the Hoosiers would tie the game up. Patrick McDonald found the set piece in the air and sent it past Russell Shealy. But the game would not stay tied for long. Just 86 seconds later, Curt Calov would take the cross and settle the ball before snapping it past the goalkeeper.
Syracuse would hold the lead all way until the 80th minute. Indiana’s Herbert Endeley would rifle a shot past the outstretched arms of Shealy into the top left corner of the net. A winner was not in sight as the game would remain tied all the way to the 90th minute. Overtime.
With both teams visibly exhausted throughout the entire overtime periods, it still would not be enough to determine a National Champion. Just like that Friday night in 2015 the overtime periods would end and the Orange would head to PKs.
Here are the Full PKs from the NCAA Twitter:
The two teams would match each other through the first seven attempts, each having a miss in the 2nd round. Maouloune Goumballe would step up in the 8th round for the Hoosiers. He would try and go just to the left of Shealy, but Shealy would take a step to his left and a dive to make the stop and put Syracuse in position to win the title with a goal.
The Orange faithful did not know who was going to step up for the chance to win a National Championship. As the fans and team settled from the energy of the save, team captain Amferny Sinclair would emerge from the midfield and make his way to the PK spot.
With the title on the line, he would approach from six yards away. Sinclair would take the shot to the right side of the net. AJ Harms would guess correctly, but what he did not guess was that Sinclair would go high instead of low.
The PK attempt would soar past Harms and hit the back of the net securing the first National Championship in program history for the Syracuse Orange. It would be the 80th National Championship in school history.
Shealy was named the 2022 Men’s College Cup Defensive Most Outstanding Player, while Opoku earned Most Outstanding Offensive Player. They were joined on the All-Tournament Team by Levonte Johnson, Curt Calov, Christian Curti and Jeorgio Kocevski.
The celebration would be plentiful for the Orange, who were projected to finish fourth out of six in the ACC Atlantic division. Coach McIntyre talked about the success of his team after the game with the ESPNU team.
Back in Syracuse, the Dome was hosting a watch party with the men’s basketball team playing. As the stars would align, PKs would happen during halftime of the hoops game. Sinclair would put the game away with the entire attention of JMA Wireless Dome watching.
Syracuse Graduate Student Karl Winter captured the moment on twitter:
Syracuse finished the season 19-2-4. On their path to the National Championship, they would upset #1 Clemson on the road and only lose one ranked matchup all season. In the NCAA tournament, they wouldn’t leave Syracuse until the semi-finals, taking down Penn in OT, getting revenge on Cornell, and then beating Vermont to head to Cary. In the semis, Syracuse would go back and forth with Creighton before winning 3-2.
Here are the full Cinematic highlights of the contest from NCAA Soccer on Twitter:
Facing Indiana, the Orange won their first National Championship in program history. Below is the Newhouse Sport Media Center’s full gallery of the match between the Hoosiers and Orange from Gabe Carr-Johnson.
