It's official! The Syracuse Orange men's soccer schedule for the 2024 season was recently released and features some intriguing matchups.
With the sunset kickoff at SU Soccer Stadium fast approaching, it's time to review the schedule and point out some highlights for this season. Seven Important conflicts The Orange will look to replicate their success in 2022 and 2023 with a 17-game regular season schedule.
August 22nd @ Colgate
In a traditional matchup against a local rival, the Orange should be feeling confident going into this season's opener against Colgate, a team they haven't lost to since 2011.
August 25 vs. Niagara
In another game against a local New York rival, the Orange will play their first home game of the season against a Niagara team that struggled last year. Niagara has never beaten Syracuse in three regular season games in the last decade. This game should be a confidence boost for the Orange to start the season off strong.
August 29th @Charlotte
Despite playing in the weak American Conference, Charlotte fielded a very competitive team last season. They beat teams like Elon, Memphis and SMU to win the American Conference Tournament and qualify for the NCAA Tournament.
The 49ers ultimately lost to Clemson, who went on to win the national championship. The 49ers return nearly all of their key players from last year, and this away game should be a great road test for the Orange.
September 2nd vs. Le Moine
Le Moyne only recently became a D1 football program and hasn't played Syracuse recently, so the Orange should be confident going into this matchup against a smaller opponent with little high-level experience. (Editor's note: As fans, we're looking forward to the “Salt City Derby”).
September 6 @ Boston College (ACC)
The Orange's first ACC game of the season will be key to building confidence and momentum. They faced BC after a lackluster away game last year, but will need to put in a strong performance to beat the Eagles for the first time since 2016.
The Eagles defense was one of the best last year and should be a big challenge with most of their defense returning in 2024. The Orange will need to play progressively and energetically to beat this team.
September 13 vs. Virginia Tech (ACC)
The Orange and Hokies haven't played against each other much in ACC play, last meeting coming in SU's 2022 National Championship game where they defeated the Hokies 3-0. VT has underperformed this season and is a young, inexperienced team, but SU should get plenty of confidence coming into their first ACC home match of the season.
September 17 vs. Canisius
The Orange should be looking to dominate Canisius at home against a lower-conference team that has won just two games in the entire 2023 season.
September 20 @ Louisville (ACC)
Last year's 2-on-2 shootout against Louisville at SU Football Stadium was arguably the most entertaining and exciting game the Orange played all year.
The Cuse have only beaten the Cardinals once in the past decade and are looking to get revenge for a hard-fought game they should have won last season. This hectic 2023 matchup drew the biggest and most enthusiastic crowd of the season to SU Soccer Stadium, with both teams scoring one apiece in the opening 12 minutes, multiple altercations and brawls erupting before Cardinals star Gage Guerra scored two goals and tied the game with a tying goal in the 89th minute.
The Cardinals made the NCAA Tournament last season and were one of the top teams in the country all season before losing to eventual semifinalist West Virginia. They return most of their key players, including Guerra, and the Orange should be a strong ACC contender to win the championship. need To win. Hopefully it will be as exciting as last year.
September 24 vs. Cornell
Cornell, featuring a young core of experienced players, shocked the Orange last year by beating them 2-1 in Ithaca. Despite the loss, the Orange should be confident they can win at home because of the depth and experience on their team.
This game should be close, but the Orange will be looking for revenge and a win after a poor showing last season. The Orange have just one win in their last four meetings with Cornell, so they will be hoping to beat one of their “weak teams.”
Sept. 27 vs. Wake Forest (ACC)
In ACC games, earning points at home is crucial as the division is always tight and competitive and nearly every team has an advantage at home, so the Orange need to be on a roll heading into the second half of the season with this game and four more ACC matchups scheduled.
Last season, Wake Forest won the ACC's Atlantic Division but made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament before failing to advance beyond the round of 32. The Orange and Deacons played to a 1-1 draw at North Carolina last year. Wake lost some key players but added some impressive new faces and maintained the solid defensive core that made the team so strong last season. Wake only allowed more than two goals twice all season and averaged less than one goal conceded per game.
This will be another must-win ACC game if the Orange hope to qualify for the NCAA Tournament and compete for the ACC title.
October 1st @ University at Albany
The Orange barely beat a tenacious Albany team last year and will need to be resourceful to secure a similar result. Albany's tenacious mentality and hard-working players can keep them in contention against the top teams, but Syracuse should have enough talent and skill to secure a win if their mentality is right.
Oct. 5 vs. Notre Dame (ACC)
In the most intriguing matchup so far this year, the Orange will host the reigning ACC regular-season champions, whom they lost to in the NCAA Tournament national championship game at Louisville last season.
This will likely be the toughest challenge for the Orange so far this year (or even this entire year) as Notre Dame is elite in every area of the field, returning basically all of their best players and improving players to add even more quality to their team.
The Irish are likely one of the favorites to win this year's national championship, but a solid showing against this team could prove the Orange have similar ambitions. This is the must-see home game of the season.and Cuse fans will need to go all out.
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Photo by Grant Halverson/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
October 8th @ Providence
The Orange will be looking to enter the game on a hot streak after a tough stretch of ACC play late in the season. Syracuse beat Providence, 2-0, in the 2023 season opener. This will be the first time the two teams have met since 2009.
They will be hoping to replicate this result and will be hoping for a win against a Friars team that is missing many key players and doesn't regularly play ACC-caliber teams. The Big East side is by no means a weak team, but the result of this away game is important for Syracuse.
Oct. 15 vs. Loyola
This tough final game against a strong ACC opponent will be the last game of the season that the Orange can classify as “easy” or “winnable.” That doesn't mean Loyola should be taken lightly, however. They boasted a talented defense last year and most of the key members of that defense return. Entering the season finale, Syracuse will want to win this one as they prepare for ACC play and the postseason.
October 19 @ Virginia (ACC)
The Orange head to Virginia for what will be a crucial and hard-fought final ACC match before the postseason. Virginia finished second in the ACC regular season last year but didn't have any notable wins and was eliminated from the ACC Tournament each of the past two seasons, losing to Syracuse.
UVA lost their four leading scorers from last season (over 80% of their points) and doesn't seem to have adequately replaced them, leaving questions about where their offensive firepower will come from. This will be a key game for Cuse to try and pick up an ACC road win, but UVA won't lose easily.
October 25 @ Clemson (ACC)
An away game at the home of the reigning National Champions…There's not much to say here. Clemson won the ACC Tournament in 2020 and 2023, and the NCAA Tournament in 2021 and 2023 to be crowned National Champions.
One of the main forces preventing Clemson from winning another trophy after 2020 is Coach McIntyre's Syracuse Orange. Clemson is one of the favorites to win during Syracuse's 2022 Treble campaign, and the Tigers boast arguably the best program in the country after 2020. The Orange know all too well how to make life difficult for Syracuse, with three wins, one tie and one loss in their five meetings since 2020.
This promises to be a key matchup in the ACC race, and while Clemson has a great team and will likely be the favorite to win, the Orange never loses against their southern rivals.
Nov. 1 vs. Pittsburgh (ACC)
This regular season finale will be very important for the Orange, as ACC regular season standings are often decided in the final game. Last season, the Orange beat Pittsburgh, 3-2, after losing 2-1 at Pittsburgh.
Both teams will obviously be looking for a win to end the regular season on a high, and with it being Senior Night and Syracuse's final home game of the season, home field advantage could be huge.
Pittsburgh has a lot of young, talented players who have gained experience over the past two years, but the Orange will likely be the favorites to win the championship.
Final thoughts:
Overall, the Orange's caliber and schedule this season will no doubt put them in a strong position to once again qualify for the NCAA Tournament. A relatively light non-conference schedule compared to years past will boost the Orange's chances and record, but as always, the ACC will be the make-or-break aspect of this season and it's there that we'll truly see if Syracuse can compete at the highest level.
We only have a few more weeks to find out how these storylines play out… and soon, SU Soccer Stadium will be buzzing with activity again. Stay tuned to Nunes Magician for the latest on men's soccer.
