Nate Edwards tallies career-high 2 assists in win over Yale

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Felipe D’Agostini had a simple message for Nate Edwards upon arriving at SU Soccer Stadium Wednesday evening. It was Edwards’ birthday, and D’Agostini predicted a big game for him.

“(D’Agostini) said, ‘I know you’re going to shine. You’re going to get an assist today,’” Edwards said.

It only took 19 minutes for Edwards to come through. Gabriel Mikina served a ball to Edwards in stride down the right sideline. Edwards then found Jeorgio Kocevski, who tapped the ball behind to D’Agostini. A top-shelf strike from the Brazilian swished into the back of the net.

“(Head coach Ian McIntyre) always tells us to get the ball out wide to our fullbacks,” Edwards said. “He wants me to be very aggressive and get crosses in. I did today and I’m happy I got at least one assist.”

On his birthday, Edwards tallied a career-high two assists in No. 22 Syracuse’s (7-3-4, 2-1-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) 2-0 win over Yale (6-5-2, 1-1-2 Ivy League). Edwards provided countless crosses into the box, resulting in two goals from D’Agostini. The Orange offense funneled through Edwards, and their backline frequently looked to push the ball to him in transition. After the 19th-minute goal, the pair connected again 84 seconds later.

Off a turnover forced by Mikina, defender Gavin Wigg worked the ball to Edwards on the outside. A swift touch pass from Edwards rolled right to Nicholas Kaloukian. One more touch made its way to D’Agostini again, this time finishing with a left-footed roller that dribbled inside the right post.

“We were trying to create some space out wide and have Nate try to get into those areas,” McIntyre said. “I thought Nate did that with some great service.”

Early on, Edwards found himself right in the thick of the action. In the second minute, Kaloukian dished a pass to Edwards, who knocked the ball off a Bulldogs’ defender for SU’s first corner kick in the second minute. After an unsuccessful attempt, Edwards sent a cross in the box to Pablo Pedregosa, whose ensuing header deflected right to Yale goalkeeper Chris Edwards.

In the fifth minute, another pristine pass from Edwards led to a brilliant header by Kaloukian into the back of the net. But the referee called the Orange offsides, negating the score.

While the midfielder had nothing to show for his efforts to that point, Edwards was the primary outlet for any offensive attack. Once Wigg, Mikina or Josh Belluz turned over Yale’s offense, their eyes immediately locked in the right wing-back dashing downfield. A pass to Edwards often followed.

“That’s one of the things that I bring to the team that’s most important. I’m always willing to make the extra run for my teammates,” Edwards said.

McIntyre decided to pull Edwards for Daniel Diaz-Bonilla’s fresh legs in the 37th minute. But, the move only lasted until halftime. SU’s attack continued to flow through Edwards once he got back on the field.

Early in the second half, Belluz found Edwards open on the far sideline. Edwards danced around a defender and worked with Mikina, but they couldn’t find an open man. After a brief change in possession, Wigg found Edwards streaking toward the right corner of the field. All Yale defenders could do was knock the ball out to force a throw-in.

The combination of Belluz and Wigg continued to feed Edwards, who later moved to the left wing-back position with Noah Singelmann on the right. Briefly on defense, Edwards outran a Bulldogs forward approaching SU’s penalty box, stealing possession and starting the break with an accurate pass to Kaloukian. Minutes later, D’Agostini and Edwards passed back and forth toward a dangerous attack. Yale’s defense quickly pressed the pair, and the Bulldogs blocked a shot from Edwards that went out of play.

Up 2-0 in the 74th minute, Jackson Glenn entered in relief for Edwards, putting an end to his evening. Edwards had properly responded to D’Agostini’s pregame encouragement.

“I knew that ball was going to go right there and I was lucky enough to be there,” D’Agostini said.