With one minute remaining in regulation, Syracuse goalkeeper Alex Bono clapped his hands and yelled at his teammates to pass the ball around in the offensive third.

Syracuse led 3-0, and by then the game’s result wasn’t in question. But Bono was still energized until the moment that would push him deeper into the SU soccer record books.

As the seconds ticked down and the Orange secured victory, Bono calmly walked 40 yards back to his cage and retrieved his gloves. No exuberant yell. No fist bump.

Just another ho-hum shutout for the junior goalkeeper.

Bono made three saves to help No. 23 Syracuse (5-1, 0-1 Atlantic Coast) prevail 3-0 over Cornell (2-2-1) on Tuesday at SU Soccer Stadium. The shutout, Bono’s fifth of the season, slid him into sole possession of second place on the all-time SU shutouts list with 23, moving past Robert Cavicchia (2005-08), who made the drive from Toronto to attend Tuesday’s match. He is now eight clean sheets away from tying Joe Papaleo for first on the program’s all-time list, and is only six games into his junior season.

“It’s an honor and a privilege and I’m blessed to have the opportunity to even be put on that list,” Bono said. “But no one remembers second place. Next up is first.”

In all, Bono needed to make just three saves to earn the victory. The Big Red had just one significant scoring chance – early in the first half – but midfielder Tommy Griffin sent a shot just over the crossbar.

“Watching him in goal, I’m almost reliving when I was a keeper, and I haven’t played in a while,” Cavicchia said after his first time watching Bono play. “He did everything correct … From watching him play tonight, he’s definitely one of the top keepers I’ve seen on TV or competed against.”

“… I hope he ends up at first place on the list.”

Syracuse head coach Ian McIntyre pointed out after the match that Bono made the routine plays when called upon.

 

Early in the first half, the goalkeeper came off his line to corral a Cornell crossing attempt, colliding with Cornell forward Conor Goepel. Bono fell and remained on the ground for a few seconds, but stood up unscathed.

With the Orange leading 2-0 midway through the second half, Bono came out of his cage the furthest he had all night, running 40 yards out to kick away a loose ball and prevent Cornell sophomore Jack Ferguson from getting a point-blank scoring chance.

Making plays with his feet is the attribute Bono said he has improved on most over his Syracuse career. Defender Jordan Murrell said after the game that he works with Bono every day on that facet of his game.

“He saved us a few times tonight and we thank him every day for it,” Murrell said. “As a defender we take pride in clean sheets. Being six games in and having conceded only one goal, it’s very good for the boys.”

After the match, Bono put the night into perspective. When he talked to reporters, he hadn’t yet talked to Cavicchia, but said he planned to take a playful jab at the former SU keeper for passing his record.

With the rest of his junior season and whole senior year ahead of him, Bono knows he has time to accomplish more than just individual feats.

“We’ve never made a final four, we’ve never been in an ACC tournament final four, we’ve never had an ACC championship or an NCAA championship,” Bono said. “Those four team awards are the next four on my list.”

Published on September 16, 2014 at 11:25 pm

Contact Josh: jmhyber@syr.edu