Minutes before the game started, Mo Adams sat down in the stands talking to his friends. At game time, all the usual starters but one walked out toward midfield. Adams had been suspended a game for yellow card accumulation.

After being handed his fifth yellow this season in SU’s last game, his fourth in the past five contests, Adams’ absence opened a hole in the Syracuse midfield. The usual first line of defense before the back three had to adjust without Adams. Senior Mamadou Balde earned the start and, early on, stole the ball and nearly assisted a goal but Tajon Buchanan nailed the post.

But even Balde couldn’t fill the absence left by Adams, as Syracuse (5-5-2, 0-3-1 Atlantic Coast) fell short to Akron (6-2-1), 1-0, Tuesday night at SU Soccer Stadium. The Orange has now dropped five of its last six, as well as its fourth straight home game.

“It had a big effect, a big loss,” junior defender Kamal Miller said of Adams’ absence. “… He does a lot of the dirty work for our team. So, we just had to put in double the amount of effort.”

Without Adams, Justin Earle made his second start in the back three and Balde, his first since SU’s season-opening road series. Akron, the nation’s 21st best offense which averages two goals a game, normally controls the ball and pace of play throughout before attacking in the final third, so though SU tried to combat Akron with an aggressive offense of its own, counter attacks came often. Long runs and through ball passes pushed the Zips deep into the Syracuse final third. Other times, Akron settled the ball and pass around, trying to find an open hole.

“With us throwing numbers forward,” SU head coach Ian McIntyre said, “we got caught a couple of times.”

Thirty-five minutes in was one of those times. Joe Korb settled and saw Ezana Kahsay splitting two defenders. A through ball gave Kahsay a one-on-one with goalkeeper Hendrik Hilpert. He fired left corner past the outstretched arm of Hilpert to give Akron the first, and only, goal of the game. Outside of the goal, Akron had just two shots in the first half.

Miller pushed upfield more often than usual, using his physical play to help stop multiple near-goals. As an Akron counter attack entered the penalty area, Miller slid and stopped the ball, sending the attacker tumbling forward. Though Akron retained position and fired a shot that just missed over the cross bar, Miller stopped a breakaway opportunity. He battled with Kahsay for 50-50 balls and often won, restarting the Syracuse offense.

“We had a very aggressive performance today and this is what has made us successful over the past few years,” Hilpert said. “… No one likes to play against Syracuse if we (play like) this.”

Trying to combat the loss of Adams, the defense sprung on Akron’s offense with more physicality. After stopping offensive pushes, the defense would turn and boot the ball upfield instead of trying to retain possession. It often resulted in throw-ins for the Zips, which kept pressuring SU despite being up a goal in the second half. Without Adams near the top of the penalty area, Akron was able to weave through and find open shots.

As Akron pushed in the 74th minute, Nate Shultz received a pass in front of the net and unmarked. He fired a shot that sailed out of bounds. Nearly 14 minutes later, Stuart Holthusen dribbled throughout the SU penalty area, splitting defenders before finding himself with enough space to fire. His shot was deflected by Hilpert.

When the defense struggled to make the stops, Hilpert was a stalwart in net. He made three diving second-half saves, keeping the game within striking distance for the Orange.

“(Hilpert) ensured they didn’t get that second goal and gave us a chance,” McIntyre said.

But that chance to tie the game up never came, and just like the three home games before it, SU walked off the field defeated.

Published on October 3, 2017 at 10:26 pm

Contact Charlie: csdistur@syr.edu | @charliedisturco