Syracuse wins the men’s soccer NCAA D1 College Cup

The GIST: December is apparently for men’s soccer shootouts, and the No. 3 Syracuse Orange leaned into the trend when they bested the eight-time champ dynasty No. 13 Indiana Hoosiers in penalties to claim the men’s College Cup on Monday night. Hoosier champion now?

How it happened: In a back-and-forth offensively-minded match, Syracuse opened the scoring in the 24th minute and held a 2–1 lead heading into the half. But Indiana didn’t go down easy, tying things up in the 80th minute thanks to striker Herbert Endeley’s rocket of a shot, forcing the game into overtime (OT).

• It took two OT periods and eight rounds of penalty kicks — the longest shootout in men’s College Cup history — for the Orange to grab the W, with captain Amferny Sinclair slotting in the dramatic game-winner. How exhausting.

The significance: The Orange, who began the season pegged to finish near the bottom of the ACC, nabbed their very first national title, extending the school’s season win record to 19 matches in the process. They’re also only the second ACC team to win their division, conference and the natty in the same season — etching their name alongside UNC’s 2011 squad in the history books.

What’s next: Though the Orange honored 12 athletes on October 28th’s senior night, only three grads — keeper Lucas Daunhauer and midfielders Colin Biros and Julio Fulcar — are ineligible to return. Thanks to redshirting and the pandemic’s bonus eligibility year, the core of the ’Cuse’s success could make a sweet Sitrus return in 2023.