Less than a week after No. 3 Syracuse (3-0) edged past Army in the Carrier Dome, the Orange host one of eight other undefeated Division I teams in the country, No. 19 Hobart (3-0), to play for the Kraus-Simmons trophy. The last time the Statesmen hoisted the trophy was in 2013. SU has a chance to start 4-0 for the first time since 2016, the last year it won the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament. 

Here’s what to know about Friday’s 7 p.m. matchup. 

Last time they played: SU played Hobart at the start of April last season sandwiched between two games against ranked opponents. The Orange had just lost, 13-10, at then-No. 12 Notre Dame and their tournament chances were being threatened. Eric Holden scored his 29th goal of the season to level the scores at five midway through the second quarter. Syracuse wouldn’t give up a goal again. Twelve-straight goals gave the Orange their sixth win of the year and began a four-game winning streak to end the season, including two top-20 wins. Jacob Buttermore and Bradley Voigt had hat tricks in the game last year with Stephen Rehfuss earning a game-high five points. Derrek Madonna and Eric Holden both had three points in the game and returned to Hobart this season. 

All-time series: Syracuse leads, 77-26-2

The Hobart report: Hobart loves to push the pace and that’s why it’s scoring an NCAA-leading 23 goals per game right now. SU close defender Grant Murphy said in film, the Orange noticed that the Statesmen will sometimes attack defenses even without a numbers advantage, unlike most teams that wait to set up. Hobart also has a free-wheeling set without many designed plays. And with Syracuse missing two-time All-American Nick Mellen, the one-on-one matchups against less experienced SU close defenders could be exploited. 

Defensively, the Statesmen play similar to Army in that they’ll pressure all around the defensive zone and look to space the Orange out. This also means that the second slide will likely be late or not there at all in most situations. Against the only common opponent the two teams had, Hobart beat Colgate 21-13, limiting the Raiders to one less goal than SU did and scoring the same amount.  

How Syracuse beats Hobart: Limiting transition will be key for the Orange against Hobart. Murphy, who will likely start in place of Mellen, said that’s something SU has struggled with so far this season, and it could be costly for Syracuse against the Statesmen. The game will likely be fast-paced, slightly favoring the Orange with their group of playmakers on offense as well as speedy two-way midfielders like Peter Dearth and Dami Oladunmoye. Unlike last week, SU can’t afford to start slow on offense against a high-powered Statesmen attack. Look for the midfielders to be the main points of attack again, especially Jamie Trimboli with space in the middle. There could also be less wing-dodging again in this game and more of the top-down approach from last year which was also seen more against the Black Knights. 

Stat to know: 37.9% — Hobart’s shooting percentage. The Statesmen shoot a lot (182 shots), and their conversion rate is fourth in the nation. Syracuse by comparison is shooting at 28.1% this season.  

Player to watch: Eric Holden, attack, No. 5

A senior that’s coming off a 67-point year, Holden has started 2020 hot by mainly patrolling the left wing for Hobart. He has 20 points through three games and sits fourth in the nation for points per game. He’s only 0.08 off North Carolina’s 2019 Tewaaraton nominee Chris Gray in that stat. Holden is second on his team in goals and tied for first in assists this year. His shooting percentage is his most impressive stat, sitting at 56%. Only one Orange player, Jamie Trimboli, is above 50% shooting this year.

Published on February 27, 2020 at 6:10 pm

Contact Arabdho: armajumd@syr.edu | @aromajumder