A group of local high school soccer players sat in the stands of Syracuse Soccer Stadium on Wednesday night and reacted lustily when Syracuse’s Jeff Evans scored the game’s first goal in the Syracuse men’s soccer team’s 2-0 win over Rutgers.

The boys were happy Evans scored, but more importantly, they wanted one of the free T-shirts that are fired into the stands every time Syracuse scores at home.

It’s safe to say, though, there haven’t been many shirts thrown into the stands this year. Syracuse’s two goals Wednesday night pushed its season total to nine, six of which have come at home.

But Evans provided the fans a little bit of home happiness. It also served as a reminder that the junior forward is still able to make an impact on offense, despite battling a leg injury that has decreased his playing time.

‘It felt great to get a goal,’ Evans said. ‘You don’t feel any pain when you put the ball in the net.’

His first-half goal was his second of the year, pushing his team-high point total to five.

Evans’ injured left knee has cost him three starts this year. But his durability is still not questioned. The games that he didn’t start, Evans still played in, and the junior has played in 34 straight games for Syracuse.

The streak dates back to the final four games of his rookie season, and is the longest active streak among the Orange.

‘I feel pretty good,’ said Evans, who’s playing at less than 100 percent. ‘I’m still nursing it back to full health. Every game it gets better and better.’

Evans has worn a brace on his left knee since the injury, and he was noticeably slower at first. He’s regained his speed over the past few games and displayed it when he scored Wednesday night.

Evans had to beat a defender through the box before firing an Alejandro Nuno feed into the back of the net. It gave Syracuse a strange lead en route to a much-needed win.

‘He’s sticking it through,’ junior goalie Alim Karim said. ‘He’s got a pretty high pain tolerance. He wants to play. He wants to win. He’s never giving up.’

Karim said it’s important for the younger players on the team to see a player like Evans play through an injury. It sets an example, Karim said, that he hopes the younger guys will follow.

More importantly, with fellow forward Pete Rowley battling an injury that’s limited Rowley to just four games, Evans putting a ball into the back of the net relieves the stress on the rest of the forwards.

‘It’s been hurting him, obviously,’ freshman Brad Peetoom said. ‘It might be a bit frustrating as a striker not scoring. But, hopefully, that can get some confidence into him. He looked fine tonight, got the goal and a really good point.’

Published on October 20, 2004 at 12:00 pm