Junior Amanda Morris walked into every contest feeling like it was a must-win game during her career at Syracuse.

But this weekend holds vast importance for the midfielder, as the Orange can take one large step forward in securing a Big East tournament bid this weekend.

‘Every game is a must-win game in my eyes,’ Morris said. ‘But these are very important games, and we need to win them.’

The Orange (5-7-4, 2-4-1 Big East) plays host to Rutgers (8-7-0, 3-4-0 Big East) on Friday at 7 p.m. and Seton Hall (6-8-0, 2-5-0) on Sunday at 1 p.m. With just one point separating SU from fifth place in the American Division, these games hold significant weight in Syracuse’s push for a postseason berth. The top five teams in each division earn a berth in the Big East tournament, something SU hasn’t participated in since 2005.

Wheddon has stressed the importance of at least splitting each weekend against his foes. But with just four games remaining in the season, each game is becoming more and more vital.

‘Obviously we never go into a weekend looking at losses, but I would say there is a certain pressure to at least split the weekend,’ Wheddon said. ‘I know a tie and a win would suffice, I guess, and two wins would be great.’

A winnable game against bottom-dwelling Pittsburgh last Sunday turned ugly when the Panthers scored in the 16th minute. The Orange had to play catch-up the entire game to walk away with a tie.

Sophomore Alyscha Mottershead knows the Orange can’t underperform against Rutgers and Seton Hall this weekend. Although SU has struggled to score in the first half of games this season, this trend cannot remain the same if the team wishes to walk away with a win.

The playoff push is motivating Syracuse players to perform in the latter half of the season.

‘We are going to have to push really hard and come out from the start,’ Mottershead said. ‘We can’t give away any silly opportunities or breakdowns like we did in the last game.’

Wheddon has seen his team succeed at portions of games, but now if the Orange wants to extend its season, it will have to be able to put together a full game. SU has played solid halves of soccer, but rarely has it played for a complete game.

With the Orange’s recent first-half struggles, Wheddon said the first halves of this weekend’s games will be the most important if SU wishes to succeed.

‘If we can come out and play with confidence and play the way that we can play,’ Wheddon said. ‘For example, we’ve showed it against DePaul in the second half, second half against West Virginia and the second half against Pittsburgh. We can play, and if we come out and do what we’re capable of, we should be all right.’

If the Orange is able avoid mistakes this weekend, Wheddon knows his team is capable of winning. Wheddon has seen parity take shape all over the Big East this season. A team like Seton Hall, which has notoriously lost to in-state rival Rutgers in the past, was able to upset the Scarlet Knights this season.

The Orange will be confronted by two evenly-matched opponents when it takes the field this weekend. SU will not be the inferior team, but it will have to outwork Rutgers and Seton Hall if it wants to make a case that it deserves a Big East tournament berth.

‘I think we are going to have to step up as a unit; and knowing that we only have a few games left to qualify for the playoffs, we are going to have to push really hard and come out from the start,’ Mottershead said. ‘I think we have to stay composed and do what we know we can do to qualify.’

adtredin@syr.edu

Published on October 14, 2010 at 12:00 pm