Kamal Miller’s decision making was his downfall. The young center back, playing for the Vaughan Azzurri soccer club in Ontario, Canada consistently made the wrong pass or did what “usually wasn’t the best option,” he said.

His head coach, Patrice Gheisar, was determined to change that.

He would arrange Miller’s teammates in formations during practice and challenge Miller to get around them by making the right choice.

“He really enhanced my game and took it to the next level,” Miller said.

Now a starting left back for Syracuse, Miller’s composure on the ball is what teammates and head coach Ian McIntyre say separates him from other defenders. He’s refined his decision making into an asset he uses to be what fellow defender Louis Cross calls an “attacking” back.

He pushes up the field more than anyone else on the backline and goes for passes downfield rather than safely along the back. Though he’s only tallied one goal and seven shots, he’ll be looking to get on the score sheet when No. 16 Syracuse (9-4-1, 2-3-1 Atlantic Coast) takes on Hartford (4-5-4, 0-2-2 America East) on Tuesday at SU Soccer Stadium at 7 p.m.

“He gives us good balance,” McIntyre said. “Composed, good on the ball, good balance there with him, Miles (Robinson) and Louis.”

For the first nine years of his soccer career, Miller played in a wide midfield position more focused on dribbling, passing and skill moves than his current role is. That experience has translated into comfortability with the ball at every spot on the field, unlike other defenders, he said.

Against Albany on Oct. 6, Miller intercepted a pass in the midfield and hesitated before pushing the ball between two defenders. He ran forward and slide tackled the player who collected the ball just outside the penalty area before forcing the goalkeeper to make a diving save on his shot.

“There’ve been a couple of times this year that he’s gotten into some dangerous areas,” McIntyre said. “I like soccer players that express themselves and go forward.”

When Miller isn’t going forward himself, he’s often passing downfield. Other defenders often pass among themselves or up the midfield, but Miller goes for long diagonal passes across the field.

While most players look for the obvious pass or to do the obvious thing, Miller said he tries to look a step ahead to put his teammates in better positions.

“He’s gone up there and made a presence up there and helped out the team as far as making chances,” midfielder Liam Callahan said.

In a play against Clemson on Saturday, he forwent an easy dish to midfielder Juuso Pasanen to thread the needle to forward Chris Nanco making a run into the box. Nanco got a touch on the ball, but it went right to the diving goalie.

McIntyre said that Miller is a reliable option that allows the Orange to keep the ball. When he creates turnovers on defense, he often dribbles through opponents upfield instead of clearing the ball for the other team to regain possession.

As the freshman defender has filled into his role for SU, he’s taken more risks downfield both dribbling the ball and with his passes. It’s lead to an increase of chances as of late, even if the end results haven’t been there.

“It’s not showing that well in the statistics, only having one goal and no assists, but I feel like it can only get better as the season goes along,” Miller said. “Hopefully it’ll come around now when we need it.”

Published on October 19, 2015 at 9:20 pm

Contact Jon: jrmettus@syr.edu | @jmettus