Jordan Vale has had little trouble keeping up with a new pace.

The game is a lot faster in America than it is in New Zealand, and Vale said the players are more athletic.

The freshman midfielder has notched three goals in his first four games at Syracuse (3-1) and is tied with Tony Asante for the team lead. Vale scored the game-winner against Binghamton and tallied two more goals inSyracuse’s 6-0 romp of Colgate on Monday night.

“He’s a soccer junkie,” SU head coach Ian McIntyre said. “He’s a talented young player. I think he’s a player that’s going to continue to develop being in this training environment, and I think he has a bright future ahead of him.”

While Vale’s future is promising, his play thus far has been exciting for Syracuse soccer fans. He’s adjusted to the college game successfully after honing his skills on the international stage.

Vale played against top competition as a member of the New Zealand U-17 national team. He scored a goal against Uzbekistan in World Cup play, a goal he considers his most memorable of all time.

“It was a great feeling to score in the World Cup,” Vale said. “I was hysteric when I scored. I didn’t know what to do with the celebration. I just ran off screaming.”

Vale headed in a goal against Binghamton for his first collegiate score. Two games later, he converted off a free kick against Colgate. Later in the same game, he delivered a bullet from more than 30 yards out that whizzed past the goalkeeper.

Teammate Lars Muller said he’s impressed by Vale’s composure and knack for scoring to start the season.

“I think he does really well on the field and off the field,” Muller said. “He’s feisty, he’s aggressive and he knows how to play soccer, so I really enjoy playing with him.”

Vale said there aren’t many opportunities in New Zealand to play soccer internationally at a young age, but he was excited about the chance to take his game to the next level and play in college.

“When I was about 13, a few lads older than me had gone to America on scholarships,” Vale said. “So that’s always been an option I’d thought of and wanted to do.”

After receiving interest from North Carolina, Northwestern andSyracuse, Vale said he was enticed by the coaching staff at SU.

He made up his mind and committed to the Orange in late January. Then all he needed to do was get from New Zealand to New York.

He traveled more than 13 hours from New Zealand to San Francisco. After spending three days in San Francisco, Vale flew another five hours to New York City. Three days later, Vale finished up the trip with a four-hour bus ride to Syracuse.

It was a weeklong journey — 22 hours of traveling — but Vale insists it was worth the commute.

“I’ve loved it here since preseason,” he said. “Maybe not the first two days of fitness, but it’s been great. The lads here are really good to be with.”

Vale said he hopes to keep starting, but his ultimate goal is to help the team win as many games as possible.

While his career at SU is just beginning, Vale aspires to play professional soccer following his four years in college. He said he has Major League Soccer and European leagues in his future plans.

If he keeps up his offensive output, pro teams will take notice. Vale has already logged 281 minutes in four regular-season games, attempting eight shots on goal and connecting on three.

“I think he’s got goals in him,” McIntyre said. “He makes good runs from midfield and links well with the front guys.

“He’s a player that has an eye for the goal and, if he can continue to make those late runs in the box, I think there’s more goals there.”

Published on September 5, 2012 at 12:33 am

Contact Trevor: tbhass@syr.edu | @TrevorHass