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SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Cornell men's soccer suffered its first major setback of 2014 on Tuesday evening at SU Soccer Stadium, falling 3-0 to local rival Syracuse. The Orange blitzed the Big Red for two goals in a 3-minute 31-second span midway through the first half to break open the game and ultimately seal the victory.
 
The Big Red enjoyed the better of the play in the early going, possessing the majority of the ball and creating some quality chances in the attacking third. The closest opportunity came on a try from about 30-yards out by freshman midfielder Tommy Griffin just over seven minutes into the contest. Griffin used some nifty dribbling to work some free space between two Orange defenders and caught the keeper by surprise with a dipping ball that sailed just inches over the crossbar.
 
Cornell (2-2-1) controlled play for the next ten minutes of play; however, the Orange was able to unlock the normally sturdy Big Red defense for two quick strikes in the span of 3:31 to take control of the contest. The two-goal deficit was too much to overcome, as the Big Red was forced to play out of its element in an effort to get back into the game.
 
The first goal of the sequence came off a wicked one-timer from junior midfielder Juuso Pasanen. The play started with Emil Ekblom feathering a good ball into space on the right flank of the Cornell defense. Junior midfielder Stefanos Stamoulacatos played a great ball back across the grain into the high-slot at the top of the box to a streaking Pasanen, who one-timed a bullet from 16 yards out into the corner of the net,  just barely eluding the outstretched arms of Cornell keeper Zach Zagorski.
 
Syracuse (5-1-0) took advantage of a defensive miscue to deposit its second goal and take the commanding advantage. With the ball deep in its defensive third, Cornell turned possession over on a sloppy clearance. The ball came directly to sophomore speedster Chris Nanco, who beat the defender to the end line and sent a cross into the box to Ekblom. With a deft first touch, the sophomore flicked the ball up into a good position and sent a strike into the right side of the net from seven yards out.
 
Cornell nearly got one back just a couple minutes later. Freshman Jonathan Cullom took a try on net from nearly 20-yards out prompting a diving parry from Syracuse keeper Alex Bono. Although he made the save, the ball squirmed out of his grasp just far enough for a streaking Conor Goepel to get a sliding boot to it. Unfortunately for the Big Red the ball sailed just wide of the far post.
 
Facing a two-nil deficit to start the second 45-minutes, Cornell came out firing. Senior Peter Chodas, sophomore Chris St. Germain and Griffin got quality looks at net within the first five minutes of play, but the Big Red could not find the delivery to best the keeper.
 
After the initial flurry, the Orange controlled much of the play in the remainder of the second half. Syracuse concluded the scoring on the night with a goal by Nick Perea with just over two-minutes to play.
 
Senior keeper Zach Zagorski made four saves in the tough contest, allowing three-goals in a game for just the second time in his collegiate career. Despite the lopsided margin, Zagorski played a strong game making several big saves and nearly coming up with spectacular stops on the first two goals allowed.
 
The Big Red will return to action this coming Friday, as it kicks off a season long five-game home stand with the annual CU Inaria Classic. Cornell will welcome Siena to Berman Field for a 7 p.m. kick in the opening fixture of the two-game classic.