No. 13 Syracuse (3-2, 0-1 Atlantic Coast) hosts No. 15 Rutgers (4-3) on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Carrier Dome in the penultimate game of SU’s seven-game homestand to start the season. The Orange are coming off a win over historic rival Johns Hopkins in which the Orange outscored the Blue Jays 6-1 in the final quarter. The Scarlet Knights lost their last game to No. 16 Lehigh and look to get back on track after the loss.

Here’s how SU and RU stack up.

All-time series: Syracuse leads, 40-9

Last time they played: The Orange traveled to what was then known as High Point Solutions Stadium last season for a matchup with the Scarlet Knights and lost, 14-10. Senior attack Jules Heningburg scored six goals for RU and Syracuse was outshot 39-29. Brendan Bomberry was the Orange’s leading goalscorer, and was the only player on SU to take more than three shots on goal.

The Rutgers report: Similar to the Orange, the Scarlet Knights rely on a defensive identity to win games. It’s 10.14 goals allowed per game is nearly identical to Syracuse’s 10 per game, and they rank 23rd and 21st, respectively, in the country in scoring defense.

Rutgers’ offense has the ability to score at a high rate — the Scarlet Knights began the season scoring 33 goals in two games — but have run into some of the strongest defensive teams in the country. They were limited to nine goals by then-No. 19 Army, which held a surging Syracuse offense to just 10 goals a week later, and were crushed by then-No. 1 Loyola, only mustering seven scores.

Their offense comes mostly from redshirt sophomore attack Adam Charalambides and junior attack Kieran Mullins, who lead the team in points with a combined 48. Charalambides is the Scarlet Knights most prolific scorer, but Mullins has only scored two less goals on 19 less shot attempts and controls the offense as a distributor with 10 assists as well as his 15 goals.

How Syracuse beats Rutgers: Limit Mullins’ opportunities and push in transition

The majority of the scoring possessions for Rutgers end with either a Mullins goal or assist. If the Orange are able to limit Mullins, the Scarlet Knights lack a solid third option to pick up the production behind Charalambides. Mullins is the smaller of the two scoring threats and will likely pick up a matchup from Nick Mellen with Tyson Bomberry flagging Charalambides.

The Orange have excelled this year with their one-on-one defense, and Mellen and Bomberry have been at the forefront Syracuse’s success on top options such as Albany attack Tehoka Nanticoke. If it can keep a similar pace against the Scarlet Knights, the Orange will be in a good position.

Additionally, the Orange can’t lose track of the same explosive transition play that helped them to a late rally over the Blue Jays last weekend. If the defense holds firm and the offense doesn’t lose its aggression, this will be a hard game for Syracuse to lose.

Stat to know: .889 — Rutgers’ successful man-down defensive stands

The Scarlet Knights rank second in the nation in man-down defense percentage, behind Army. Syracuse is the eighth-best team in the nation at converting on man-up opportunities, tallying nine goals on 20 attempts. Syracuse didn’t convert on any of its extra man opportunities against the Black Knights earlier in the season, and will likely face a similarly daunting task trying to convert against the Scarlet Knights’ unit.

Player to watch: Kieran Mullins, junior attack, No. 4

Already a great goalscorer in his first two years with the Scarlet Knights, Mullins has improved with his ability to pass the ball and already has 10 assists in just five games played. Mullins missed Rutgers’ matchups against Loyola and Fairfield with an injury but maintained his spot atop the scoresheet with his ability to score in bunches, netting six goals in RU’s win over St. John’s the second week of the season.

Published on March 16, 2019 at 12:05 am

Contact Michael: mmcclear@syr.edu | @MikeJMcCleary