When the Syracuse men’s soccer team lost to Adelphi in double overtime last September, it was the fourth overtime contest in the Orange’s first five games.

It was a disturbing trend that continued as the season progressed. Syracuse failed to win a single overtime game last season, losing twice and tying five times.

As Syracuse prepares to host Adelphi at 1 p.m. Sunday at Syracuse Soccer Stadium, it hopes to avoid the overtime blues that plagued it all of last year.

‘It tires a team out,’ Adelphi head coach Bob Montgomery said about the number of overtime games Syracuse played. ‘You’re playing close to three extra games over the course of the year.’

When the Orange played Adelphi last year, the combination of the four overtime games added, in essence, an entire extra game for the tired Syracuse.

Making things worse for the Orange was that SU was unable to win any of those close games. Montgomery said it gives way to an almost defeatist attitude, one that works against the team in close games.

‘It’s tough to keep that mentality,’ Montgomery said of the close games. ‘But (Syracuse head coach Dean Foti) always does a good job motivating his guys. And he usually recruits pretty competitive guys, too.’

After struggling with overtime last year, Syracuse was hoping to change the trend this fall. But fittingly, the Orange’s first game of the season Wednesday night against St. Bonaventure went to – what else – double overtime.

Losing a game when a team is so close to winning doesn’t make it any easier, according to freshman Pete Rowley.

‘It hurts being that close,’ Rowley said. ‘Being one shot away. But you can’t dwell on it. We’ve got a game on Sunday. It’s over.’

Wednesday night, Syracuse dictated much of the play against St. Bonaventure. But after having numerous chances to score, a fluke opportunity by St. Bonaventure made the difference.

‘Overtime, everybody’s tired.’ Rowley said. ‘You’ve got to be in a different gear and go all out. Our team did it. It’s just unfortunate they came away with it.’

The strategy used by a team in overtime can make a difference as well. Montgomery says an opponent usually dictates what strategy a team uses. But against Syracuse last year, he wanted his players to press for the win while acting with a sense of balance on the defensive end.

‘Overtime can go either way,’ Syracuse junior Alejandro Nuno said. ‘That’s the way soccer is.’

Published on September 2, 2004 at 12:00 pm