Louis Clark is still getting used to teammates calling him anything other than “mate.”

In his native England, that’s what he heard when he was about to take a pass. He hardly ever hears it in the United States.

Clark is one of eight international players on the Syracuse roster. They’ve accounted for 17 of the team’s 22 goals and helped propel the Orange to a 7-2 start. The international core will look to continue to produce in Syracuse’s game against Massachusetts (3-3-2) on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. in Amherst, Mass.

“You’ve got so many cultures that, when you bring everyone together, it can only be positive, really,” Clark said.

The international players’ influence was on display last Saturday against Seton Hall.

New Zealand native Jordan Vale scored the decisive goal in Syracuse’s 1-0 win over the Pirates off a pass from England-born Ted Cribley. Juuso Pasanen of Switzerland and Canadian defenders Skylar Thomas and Jordan Murrell also started and played well for the Orange.

The dominance of this year’s internationally loaded team has helped Syracuse already surpass its total of 20 goals last season.

“One player might be very, very good technically with the ball, while another player in the same position could offer a different range of passing and a completely different aspect,” Cribley said. “It can unbalance other teams that we play.”

Cribley said he and Clark bring a physical mentality to the field. When they played club soccer in England at the age of 17, the duo battled against players in their 30s, which helped prepare them for the physicality of American soccer.

“The English have a certain style of football,” Cribley said. “I’d say the English style is probably a bit more physical and probably longer balls and set pieces.”

After growing up in England, Cribley began his college career at Herkimer County Community College. Once he received his degree from Herkimer, he knew he wanted the chance to play for a Division-I school.

His first season at SU was a struggle. Cribley started all 16 games, but the team finished 3-12-1 and failed to qualify for the Big East tournament.

This year, Cribley said the blend of the international players has helped mold the Orange into a legitimate contender.

“When you meet people from different countries, it entices you to learn more about them and the different styles of play,” Cribley said. “When those styles are combined, they can work very well.”

One newcomer who has brought his own style to the team is Ghana native Tony Asante. SU’s leading scorer has outmaneuvered and outworked defenders en route to scoring five goals and recording two assists. Asante’s quick first step and relentless pursuit of the ball were missing from the Orange’s attack last season.

In addition to the chemistry on the field, Lars Muller of Germany said the players have gelled off the field. Muller said there’s a lighthearted rivalry between him and his British teammates.

Head coach Ian McIntyre said the locker room gets very animated when everyone is watching an international game.

“It’s always interesting to see what international teams are playing each other,” he said. “We’re all fans of U.S. soccer, but then if Canada, New Zealand, Germany or whoever is playing, it becomes quite lively.”

That passion and livelihood have translated to success for the Orange, with international players comprising a substantial portion of the team’s core.

“We talk about soccer being a sport that transcends a lot of different cultures and ethnicities, and certainly countries,” McIntyre said. “It really is the world’s game.

“We have quite a diverse, football-mad locker room, and it’s fun to be around.”

Published on September 25, 2012 at 1:01 am

Contact Trevor: tbhass@syr.edu | @TrevorHass