High school girls soccer: Syracuse earns its biggest win of the season, hands No. 1 Davis its first loss

Even though the results weren’t always there for Syracuse during the opening month of the season, coach Jason Steiner said he could see the quality of soccer from his team slowly improve regardless of the outcome.

Even in a region-opening loss to Farmington earlier this week, Steiner said his team created plenty of chances to win — outshooting the Phoenix 24-7 — it just lacked that final touch in the box.

Two days later, however, the Titans brought their finishing boots in their highly-anticipated showdown with 6A No. 1 Davis.

Brianna Brown, Hannah NeVille and Abby Rizley all found the back of the net, and then Syracuse’s defense shut things down in the final 20 minutes to prevail 3-2 in the Region 1 battle.

“It came today. Some days they don’t. Last year things went our way, and you know, the little things haven’t gone our way yet this year, and that’s why we’re sitting at 5-5,” said Steiner.

Defending 6A state champion Syracuse improved to 6-5 with the win, while Davis suffered its first loss of the season and falls to 8-1.

“(We’ve) played really good soccer at times. We definitely haven’t put 80 minutes together yet. That’s probably as close as we’ve come,” said Steiner. “So there’s been good soccer, not good results, and so that’s how I stay positive, because if we weren’t creating chances, we weren’t in games, then I’d be a little more worried, ’cause we can play with anybody if we come.”

Syracuse needed just eight minutes to find the net on Thursday, as Brown was first to a second ball in the box after a corner kick, smashing it home for the 1-0 lead.

Unfortunately for the Titans, the lead lasted just five minutes.

Davis’ Ellie Stowers was in the perfect spot near the far post to head home a perfectly lofted corner kick from Reial Phongsavath, leveling the score 1-1 in the 13th minute.

Despite the quality finish, Steiner believes it was a soft goal that should’ve never been allowed if his players had marked tighter and had challenged for the ball.

Syracuse reclaimed the lead in the 25th minute as NeVille scored her first goal of the season on a chipped shot into the upper corner of the net.

The tally felt extra sweet for Neville, who transferred from Davis to Syracuse on poor terms after last season.

“I feel very blessed to be coached by these players and these coaches, and I feel like it’s just a great opportunity for me, and it’s just an amazing team and we’re all positive and we’re one big family and I’m so grateful to be able to score on this team and just come out with a dub,” said NeVille.

“I’m so very grateful that I made the change. I would not want to be anywhere else but at Syracuse.”

Leading 2-1 at intermission, Syracuse pushed the lead to 3-1 just five minutes into the second half on a 40-yard dipping shot from Rizley that slipped just under the crossbar.

Davis pulled a goal back in the 60th minute as Phongsavath buried a penalty kick after a handball at the edge of the penalty area. The Darts couldn’t find the equalizer though against Syracuse’s stout defense in those final 20 minutes.

“Obviously a rocky start (to the season), but again, we are an amazing team,” Neville said. “We just got to come out on top on the rest of these games.”