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SYRACUSE 2, HARTFORD 0 dailyorange.com @dailyorange oct. 19, 2015 • PAG E 16
back in rhythm John-Austin Ricks and Mo Adams each scored their first goal in Syracuse’s win. After a program record 8-0 start followed by a four-game winless streak, SU has gotten itself back on track with two straight wins. sam ogozalek staff writer
Syracuse dominates host Hartford in 2-0 win for 2nd straight victory By Matthew Gutierrez asst. copy editor
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EST HARTFORD, Conn. — The solution to Syracuse’s dull offense lay in a trio of newcomers that, as of last Friday, had not contributed more than a couple of assists to the Orange’s scoring. Sergio Camargo, who hadn’t scored all year until Friday’s game-winner, struck first. Then, Tuesday night, two freshmen jumpstarted a recently struggling offense. Sharp passes and a new look revived Syracuse. First-career goals by John-Austin Ricks and Mo Adams provided the spark in No. 6 Syracuse’s (10-3-2, 3-2-1 Atlantic Coast) 2-0 victory over Hartford (5-7-3, 1-1-2) on Yousuf Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium. It was an offensive resurgence for Syracuse, which scored
multiple goals for the first time since Sept. 20. “We had a very disappointed locker room a couple weeks ago in Albany,” Syracuse head coach Ian McIntyre said, referencing SU’s upset loss 14 days ago. “They’ve kept that one bottled away and it was important it didn’t happen again.” `Before the game, McIntyre asked players to shoot early. He asked them to attack spaces. And he asked them to penetrate the defense via short passes. The Orange listened, tallying 10 corner kicks in the first half alone. Syracuse’s incessant attack resulted from a variety of methods, many of which came centered around speed and precision. Oyvind Alseth mapped out his options all night. Jonathan Hagman and Chris Nanco pushed the tempo early. Players opted for short deliveries, two-tothree at a time, rather than long balls in the air. Finally, in the 42nd minute, an unassisted
Ricks header fluttered into the left side of the net. The goal, off of SU’s 10th and last corner of the night, gave the Orange a 1-0 halftime lead. “It’s what we needed,” Ricks said. “It gave us that front foot going into the second half.” In games the Orange has notches two or more goals, it’s 8-0. In games the Orange has scored in the first half, it’s 7-1. Both happened on the heels of a much-needed victory over then-No. 15 Virginia Tech last Friday, when SU snapped a four-game winless streak. Minutes out of the break, Adams uncorked a liner from more than 30 yards out. The score, as did so many other SU quality shots, came as a result of diagonal passes form the wing. Adams’ first-ever Syracuse goal was a bullet into the top left corner, muting a packed Alumni Stadium. “The boys were telling me it’s got to come
see hartford page 14
football
Daivon Ellison improves tackling, earns starting role By Chris Libonati asst. sports editor
Daivon Ellison pointed his chin toward the ground, stared at his feet and wracked his brain. For about 10 seconds, he flipped through his rolodex of tackles this season. At the time, there were 37 to go through, the third most for a Syracuse player. He tried finding one that stood out. Last season, this would have been easy. Former head coach Scott Shafer freed up his players to light up opponents. With with Shafer’s departure, Syracuse’s high-risk, high-reward system departed, too.
Dino Babers introduced the Tampa 2, which was supposed to reign in players’ aggression to limit big plays. Ellison wraps up tackles more now instead of launching. “Honestly, last year, I was a ‘take a shot’ type of guy, but with the new system our coaches put in, it’s like a lot safer,” Ellison said. “We hit with our shoulders now. It’s a lot more accurate.” Ellison has always been a big hitter. Mixed in with his high school highlight tapes is a 36-second YouTube video titled “Don Bosco DB Daivon Ellison lays a huge hit to cause fumble.” In limited action on
special teams last season, he finished tied for second in special teams tackles with four and forced one fumble. After starting safety Antwan Cordy went down during Syracuse’s
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The number of tackles Daivon Ellison has wrapped up in the last five weeks
matchup with Louisville, the Orange has needed Ellison to step up along with Rodney Williams. Safety Kielan Whitner also missed two weeks,
forcing Ellison into increased action against South Florida and Connecticut. Since, Ellison has rotated in with Williams and Whitner. He led Syracuse (3-4, 1-2 Atlantic Coast) in tackles, with 11, in the Orange’s upset over then-No. 17 Virginia Tech. “Daivon was our defensive player of the game (against VT),” Babers said. “… You see the way he throws his body around on the football field absolutely unselfishly with no regard toward his own well-being.” The 5-foot-8 safety showcased his hitting against Pittsburgh last season. After Syracuse grabbed a 10-3, SU kicked off to Pitt wide
receiver Tyler Boyd. Ellison drifted from the left side of the kickoff formation to the right hash. As Boyd cut back to the middle of the field, Ellison sped up and bore down on Boyd. Ellison launched head first. Boyd’s body twirled a few yards above the ground and the ball popped in the air. It took two seconds to tumble down. Despite his hitting ability, Ellison came in as a 168-pound freshman. This offseason, Ellison wanted to up his weight to 180 pounds. He reached that number by the time summer practices started, but he got bronchitis and lost some of the weight he
see ellison page 15