Isaac Collings used to beat two or three defenders, race toward the goal and bury a shot into the back of the net.

Scoring was Collings’ game, and it came naturally for the 5-foot-9 forward.

On Wednesday night, Collings beat three Hartwick defenders along the edge and stormed into the box.

It felt like he was back in high school, except Collings misfired on his shot and it landed squarely in the arms of Hartwick’s goalie. Instead of delivering a powerful goal, Collings buried his head.

It’s been like that a lot lately for Collings and Syracuse. SU and Collings will try to correct the problem once again when the Orange hosts No. 25 Seton Hall on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Syracuse Soccer Stadium. Syracuse has lost six straight games and is 2-9 overall, with every game having been decided by just one goal.

After missing all of last year with a knee injury suffered while playing for the U.S. Under-18 National Team, Collings, a redshirt freshman, surely looked like the player of old, minus the scoring.

Collings alone had a half-dozen or so chances to score in Wednesday’s game against No. 23 Hartwick. But while he showcased his ability to beat defenders, the scoring touch wasn’t there.

‘It’s real frustrating,’ Collings said. ‘On those plays, I’m not happy with myself. I need to be scoring goals. That’s my game.’

It’s disturbing for Collings because up until his knee injury, he never had a problem finding the back of the net.

But losing an entire season hurt Collings’ development. At the beginning of the season, Collings appeared a step slower. Over the past month of play, Collings is slowly regaining his speed and ability to beat defenders.

‘Before I had my knee injury,’ Collings said, ‘I beat a player, I scored a goal. I’ve just got to find the other half of my game.’

Other coaches still recognize the talent Collings possesses. Even if he isn’t at full strength, they still fear his speed and ball control. At Oriskany High School, Collings achieved McDonald’s High School All-American status. He scored 23 goals and recorded 25 assists as a senior. He totaled 91 goals and 91 assists over his career.

Collings recorded nearly every accolade possible, from playing with U.S. Under-15 and Under-18 teams, to traveling with the 2003 Region I Olympic Development Team that visited Brazil and was coached by SU head coach Dean Foti.

‘The guy always has double or triple coverage,’ sophomore Edvin Hot said. ‘(Coaches) know they’re going to have to mark him.’

Collings feels the quickness and control in his feet aren’t at the level they used to be, and that’s affecting his ability to find the back of the net.

Syracuse sorely needs Collings, or anyone else, to catch fire offensively. The Orange has been shut out in its past two games and scored just three goals in the past eight games.

‘It’s a good group. Dean’s got very good players,’ Hartwick head coach Ian McIntyre said. ‘A couple of goals go here or there and it’s a completely different season. It’s a talented group of individuals. They’re not too far away from getting those results.’

Unfortunately for the Orange – and especially Collings – the frustration is growing every time SU steps on the field and doesn’t win – or score for that matter.

‘I’m not as sharp as I used to be,’ Collings said. ‘It’s getting there. It’ll be back.’

Published on October 14, 2004 at 12:00 pm