After 84 minutes of trailing or being tied, Chris Nanco broke through four games of personal futility and nearly a whole game of wasted chances. Nanco blasted Korab Syla’s pass from the right side of the net to the bottom left corner to give Syracuse the lead for good.

“I really didn’t even see the net,” Nanco said, “I just took a shot on net and hope for the best.”

Syla and the team huddled around Nanco in celebration as SU (3-1) took its first and only lead to beat Rutgers (2-1), 2-1. The Orange outshot Rutgers 20-4 and the Scarlet Knights’ only shot on goal was also its only goal in the game.

In each of SU’s four games this season, the Orange has tallied 17 or more shots and produced more than two goals just once. All except one of SU’s seven goals this season have come in the second half or overtime of games. On Sunday, the Orange’s two second-half goals were good enough to squeak past Rutgers.

“We just came out with more intensity,” Nanco said of the team converting in the second half. “We went in, got a little pep talk from (SU head coach Ian McIntyre) and we came out buzzing.”

Syracuse’s offensive performance was nearly defined by defender Miles Robinson missing a near-perfect Julian Buescher cross, rolling into the Rutgers net and pounding his fist into the ground.

It was one of many missed first-half opportunities. SU totaled eight shots, three on net, and five corner kicks. Consistently to the right of the box, Syla would control the ball just beyond the box and McIntyre would pelt him with “beat him” or “make a move.”

Instead, he typically dropped the ball back to a teammate. When he did beat a defender, Syla floated a shot right into RU goalie David Greczek’s chest with 1:45 left in the first half. Despite getting chances in the opening frame, McIntyre said the ball movement was better in the second and one reason SU was able to convert.

“It’s easier if everyone works together,” Julian Buescher said.

Buescher scored his first goal of the season 33 seconds into the second half, drilling a shot into a small slot between the goalie and the left post. The shot matched Brian Hawkins’ goal for Rutgers after an early first-half free kick produced a scramble in front of the net.

SU held the ball for the majority of the second half and created more chances. Buescher fired a shot from almost no angle over the crossbar, forward Noah Rhynhart nearly scored a goal — but was barely offsides — and forward Ben Polk blasted a Liam Callahan service out of the air as the goalie made a diving stop on the upper right side of the net.

“I think it’s just being more calm in the final third,” Nanco said. “Just taking the time, look at the goal, place shots on net.”

With 24:04 left in the game, Syla missed every player in the box with a cross, stopped only by Nanco, whose cross ricocheted back to Syla. The midfielder fired his shot wide left of the net and out of bounds. As he walked back to the other end of the field, he pulled his jersey as if he was going to wipe sweat off his face, but instead yelled to himself.

It wasn’t until nearly 40 minutes after Buescher’s goal that Nanco, who in the first half dribbled into five defenders and fired a shot wide left of the net and had his feet tangled up and fired another shot wide right of the net, redeemed himself and the team.

“We caught them straight away,” McIntyre said of coming out in the second half. “… we kept on going tonight.”

Published on September 7, 2015 at 12:12 am

Contact Chris: cjlibona@syr.edu | @ChrisLibonati