If the Syracuse men’s soccer team’s early season aspirations were dampened by two losses this weekend, then Georgetown’s were soaked.

While the Orangemen (0-2) lost two games by a combined score of 4-1, the Hoyas (0-2) got blitzed, losing 3-1 to George Washington and 4-0 to American. Both SU and GU look to recover this weekend when they meet Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Soccer Stadium at the Lampe Athletics Complex.

‘I’m sure neither of us are happy,’ Georgetown coach Keith Tabatznik said. ‘We both struggled this weekend. I’m sure we’re both looking at this meeting the same way.’

Both teams attributed their early troubles to an unconventional number of freshman starters. While six first-year Orangemen took the field as starters due to a number of out-of-shape upperclassmen, seven rookie Hoyas earned playing time because Tabatznik had no other options. Only four seniors and three juniors dot the Georgetown roster, and only a pair of the upperclassmen start.

Foti said Syracuse’s older players will return to the lineup as soon as they return to playing shape.

The coaches agreed the speed of college soccer is the most challenging aspect for freshmen to adjust to, noting that high school players have more time to dribble and pass.

‘I wasn’t expecting to get a lot of playing time,’ Syracuse freshman forward Jeff Evans said. ‘I’m still adjusting to the speed. It’s a lot different than high school. It’s going to take a while.’

But Evans and the Orangemen don’t have a while to wait. The game — though it’s only the third of the season — marks the beginning of the Big East schedule and signals an entirely new brand of soccer.

‘(In conference play), it’s the same principles, just everything’s three times faster,’ Syracuse sophomore Ryan Hickey said. ‘That, and it’s more physical. Big East games are pretty much wrestling matches.’

Both Syracuse and Georgetown might need a high finish in the Big East to make the NCAA Tournament. Each squad already soiled its chance at impressing officials with out-of-conference play.

‘This means everything to us.’ Tabatznik said. ‘We’re more excited to play a Big East game than we would be to play the No. 1 team in the country.’

‘It’s definitely a must-win,’ Hall said. ‘There’s no doubt about it. No other way. No ties. No losses. We have to win.’

In order to improve on their unemotional output last weekend, senior defender Eric Chapman said the Orangemen have spent the past week questioning each other’s heart. And with the unusual balance between freshmen and seniors, Syracuse also aims to create team chemistry. That effort will continue through tonight at a team dinner.

For SU, the game appears eerily similar to last year’s meeting with Virginia Tech. The Hokies came to Syracuse on Sept. 29, downing the Orangemen 2-0 in the third Big East game of the year. At the end of the season, the Orangemen were left booting themselves in the behind, missing the Big East Tournament and finishing one point behind the less-talented Hokies.

Although both the Orangemen and Hoyas failed to display their potential last weekend, coaches picked both Georgetown and Syracuse to make the Big East tournament in the preseason poll. Coaches picked Syracuse to finish seventh, one spot ahead of Georgetown. The Hoyas finished seventh in the conference last season, two spots ahead of SU.

‘After our performance (last) weekend, we can’t get any worse,’ Hall said. ‘If we play like that, there’s no way we can win.’

Published on September 5, 2002 at 12:00 pm