Syracuse men’s soccer head coach Dean Foti thinks Ryan Jones can be big-time.

Jones, a product of Clifton Park, N.Y., grabbed hold of the starting goalkeeper slot after only two games this season, and appears to be the keeper of the future for the Orange.

‘I wanted to define myself as the starting goalkeeper,’ said Jones, a redshirt freshman. ‘I knew there was another guy coming in that was challenging for the spot, and there was already another player on the team challenging for the spot.’

Making his collegiate debut in the second half of the home opener against Cornell on Sept. 5, Jones made three saves while keeping the Big Red scoreless. His play earned him the start in the team’s next two games against Colgate and Loyola. In a thrilling 3-2 overtime loss to Colgate, Jones made 12 saves. He has yet to give up the starting role since.

‘He’s really good at reading angles,’ senior captain Hansen Woodruff said. ‘He doesn’t seem to fear much when there are other players in the box, and he finds his way through traffic pretty well.’

Much of that confidence is due to experience gained during his redshirt year last season. Though he was unable to collect any game experience, his redshirt status still allowed him to practice with the team. This meant he could practice as if he were a starter, working to improve his skills and adjust to the college level of play.

‘He had the luxury of coming in for a year, and he wasn’t pressed into service right away,’ Foti said. ‘We had a very experienced and four-year starter in front of him, so he was able to sit behind him and be like an apprentice for a year and take in all the experiences.’

Jones had natural athletic ability to rely on as well. After being moved up to the varsity team as a freshman in high school, Jones firmly asserted himself as the starter by the time his sophomore season rolled around. During that year, his team ascended to a No. 12 national ranking en route to a New York State Class AA title. A two-sport athlete at Shenendehowa High School, he was also heavily recruited on the national level to run the 800-meter event for collegiate track and field teams. But soccer was his true passion

Living only two hours away from campus, when Syracuse came into the picture during his junior year of high school, Jones knew it was the perfect fit.

‘I was a big fan of the basketball team, actually,’ Jones said. ‘I got in contact with Coach Dean, and they came to see me play a few times. They seemed interested, but I just always had my heart set on Syracuse.’

And when he hit the field against Cornell, Jones couldn’t have been happier.

‘After waiting a year, I just thought it was finally my time to be out there,’ Jones said. ‘The atmosphere of the first home game was amazing, and hopefully we can keep that up throughout the year.’

As Jones looks to maintain his hold on the starting spot, he will have to do so against a multitude of tough opponents. The Big East has three nationally ranked teams in South Florida (No. 3), Louisville (No. 9) and St. John’s (No. 18). The Orange still has games against all three of these opponents.

‘Going forward we just look for him to do the best he can,’ Woodruff said. ‘He’s been playing well, and he’s real confident. Once he keeps getting more experience he’s going to develop into a really solid player for us.’

mjcohe02@syr.edu

Published on September 22, 2009 at 12:00 pm

Contact Michael: mjcohe02@syr.edu | @Michael_Cohen13