It’s all about who you know in Syracuse women’s soccer.

Freshman midfielder Eva Gordon was a ball girl for Syracuse when she was 10 years old. Freshman defender Alexis Muraco was coached by Jackie Firenze’s mother, Kelly, in fifth grade. Junior defender Taylor Haenlin’s childhood babysitter, Chelsea Berry, played for the Orange from 2006–09.

It goes on and on.

Syracuse is chock-full of central New York connections. Ten players on the 2014 roster are from New York, five went to high schools with a “315” Syracuse area code and a handful played for the Syracuse Lady Knights this past summer.

Head coach Phil Wheddon is snatching local talent while trying to grow a competitive squad and it could pay dividends in the Orange’s (3-1-2) second year in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

“When you play together over the summer, it adds to your chemistry,” Wheddon said. “You get to have an understanding and a feel for what the player’s going to do.”

Gordon played with senior forward Alexis Koval at nearby Christian Brothers Academy and originally thought she’d leave the area for college. But after Jackie and Emma Firenze — who, like Gordon, Muraco and Haenlin played for the Empire United club team in central New York — joined Syracuse, they persuaded her to give it a chance. Gordon played with the Firenzes throughout much of her childhood and knew it was the right fit when she looked at the school.

When Gordon played in her first home game for the Orange against Connecticut on Sept. 1, she searched the crowd to see where her parents were sitting — which she’s always done for local games.

“There’s something about having local support and your parents, you know they’re at the game,” Gordon said. “So it’s kind of awesome.”

Through six games, Gordon has started four times and is transitioning from outside forward to center midfield to play alongside Jackie Firenze. She was joined by Muraco in overtime of the Connecticut game, another local talent who didn’t need the same push to come to SU.

Gordon has played with Muraco since around fifth grade and Muraco has been attending Syracuse soccer games since middle school. Now she plays in them.

“I always wanted to be close to home,” Muraco said. “It worked out perfectly.”

This year’s incoming recruiting class was ranked 17th nationwide by topdrawersoccer.com and Muraco says it’s the best class since she’s been following the team.

Having players that are familiar with each other has proved beneficial, Wheddon said. Not only did SU have players on the Lady Knights, but about 15 players in total were in the area to train over the summer.

Mike Paolini, who coaches the Lady Knights and is the director of soccer for Syracuse Development Academy, said that it gives him great joy to be able to drive 15 miles and see his players at the SU Soccer Stadium.

Against Connecticut at SU Soccer Stadium, a few young fans in the crowd wore Syracuse Development Academy jerseys. And while the current batch of local products competed on the field, the next wave may have been sitting in the stands.

“We’re the top university in the area and no disrespect to any other program,” Wheddon said. “So we want to make sure that the best players in central New York come to Syracuse. If they can play at the ACC level, we would like to have them here.”

Published on September 10, 2014 at 12:10 am

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