Shannon Aviza played the ball to Meghan Root just outside the top of the box. Root touched it with her right foot, turned and curled a shot with her left, bending it into the top right corner just out of the reach of Miami’s goalie.

“Meghan Root, big time kiddo,” head coach Nicky Adams said when Root returned near the bench.

The 11th minute goal wasn’t enough for the Orange (3-8-2, 1-4-1 Atlantic Coast) to salvage another ACC point in a 2-1 home loss to Miami (4-6-2, 1-4-1) on Sunday. But for a team that entered the week having only scored one goal since August, Root’s total of three in the past two matches has given Syracuse’s offense a much needed boost.

“It always feels good,” Root said. “I feel like we’ve kind of been knocking on the door all season, I’ve been personally wanting to get one all season, so to put a couple back in the net definitely helps.”

The sophomore forward scored twice on 11 shots in 11 starts last season. This weekend alone, she scored three on seven. She now leads the team in goals as well as points (7) and shots (23).

Root said she noticed the Miami backs sitting lower in the box in the first half, knowing a scoring opportunity might come from at the top. Adams said earlier this week that aside from set pieces or counterattacks, the only other way to score would be from taking more aggressive shots outside the 18.

“She’s been dangerous because she’s putting herself in dangerous situations,” Adams said. “Like I said from the beginning, every week she’s getting better, more confidence is growing and I’m really, really proud of her effort the entire weekend.” 

 

Hey @root_meghan, let’s see that goal again ???⚽ pic.twitter.com/2NL1cQcKxU

— Syracuse Women’s Soccer (@cusewsoc) October 13, 2019

The Orange controlled possession early, but in the 10th minute Miami’s Tia Dupont slipped by Kailey Brenner and tapped it in. It appeared Syracuse would be playing from behind, as has been the case most of the season. Instead, Root tied it up only 43 seconds later.

Root called the five minutes between stoppages after goals “the most dangerous parts of the game.” Her third goal of the season put the Orange only one more strike away from a win.

After the Orange failed to record a single shot against the Fighting Irish on Oct. 4, Adams said she wanted her team to focus on “pulling the trigger” and turning “half chances” into scoring opportunities. 

It was the theme all week in Adam’s pregame speech and scouting reports. When Root got the ball on Sunday, she didn’t hesitate. 

“We wanted to press, we wanted to go forward,” Root said. “We wanted to test the keeper, we wanted to put shots on target and give ourselves a better chance to score.”

It wasn’t until Miami found the back of the net in the 83rd minute that the Orange’s fate was sealed. 

Sydney Brackett listed getting numbers behind the ball and frontline play as areas the Orange need to work on before next week’s match against Clemson. But with Root taking more aggressive shots and finding the back of the net, Syracuse’s stagnant offense has finally seen a breakthrough. 

Published on October 13, 2019 at 6:03 pm

Contact Eric: estorms@syr.edu