In a final effort to score, DePaul midfielder Antonio Aguilar sent a ball into the box with two minutes to play. Syracuse center back Chris Makowski headed it back toward midfield, sealing his team’s 11th shutout of the season.

The Orange utilized an evident size advantage to dictate the game’s tempo and hold possession for a large portion of the first half. SU’s ability to control the game in the air not only helped the team offensively, but was also an integral part of a strong defensive effort in a 2-0 victory over DePaul at SU Soccer Stadium on Saturday night.

“Attacking the ball in the air is about personality,” SU head coach Ian McIntyre said. “And it’s also about aggression.”

Syracuse (12-4, 5-2 Big East) had both personality and aggression on offense and defense against the Blue Demons (3-10-3, 0-6-1). SU won headers throughout the game just as the 5-foot-11-inch Makowski did to preserve the shutout.

With 28 minutes left in the second half, redshirt freshman defender Tyler Hilliard won a crucial header at midfield, then cleared the ball with his head again on DePaul’s next offensive possession.

Less than five minutes later, DePaul’s Aguilar sent a lob pass into Syracuse’s box. DePaul midfielder Joe Brinckwirth challenged Orange goalkeeper Alex Bono.

But Bono, standing at 6 feet 3 inches, prevailed over Brinckwirth’s smaller 5-foot-8-inch frame.

“We did have a good size advantage,” Hilliard said, “So when the ball was in the air we were confident enough to just go and get it.”

Hilliard and fellow freshman Jordan Vale teamed up to give the Orange both goals on headers as well. Hilliard’s came in the 15th minute on a free-kick pass from Jordan Murrell.

“We have worked a lot the last few weeks on set pieces,” Hilliard said. “Coach Mac says they are the most important part because we have dominated the Big East so far in restarts and scoring goals off them. My role was to run into the box and find a flick on, and fortunately I got a goal off of it.”

As a freshman filling in for the injured Skylar Thomas and Ryan Tessler, Hilliard stepped up and set the tone on a big night for the Syracuse seniors.

“Tyler Hilliard, who wasn’t playing a couple of weeks ago, comes out and is the hero tonight,” McIntyre said. “Good for him, and an important goal to score at an important time of the game.”

The second goal came at the back end of a long lob pass from substitute midfielder Juuso Pasanen. It was Vale who found the back of the net when he headed the ball just over the reach of DePaul goalkeeper Eric Sorby to give Syracuse a 2-0 advantage in the 40th minute.

The 5-foot-10-inch Vale has been able to score with his head repeatedly for the Orange this season, a skill that he credits to his father.

“I give all to my dad really,” Vale said. “He’s smaller than me and was a goalkeeper, so he had to know how to judge balls. My judging and my runs are all thanks to him really.”

And thanks to Hilliard and a tenacious effort by the defense, Syracuse fended off limited attempts by the DePaul attack.

On a night when its opponent was the smaller team, the Orange capitalized on both sides of the ball to earn a dominant victory on senior night.

“We were never threatened too much on either side of the ball,” Hilliard said, “It was just a great effort by both the offense and defense.”

Published on October 21, 2012 at 12:20 am

Contact Jesse: jcdoug01@syr.edu | @dougherty_jesse