Zambrano’s hat trick leads Syracuse Men’s Soccer to victory over Colgate

It’s no secret that scoring has been a real problem for Syracuse Men’s Soccer this season. Heading into their showdown at the SU Soccer Stadium against Colgate, the Orange had managed just 5 goals across their first 8 games. 

But Tuesday night was a different story for Syracuse thanks to one man: Carlos Zambrano. 

Zambrano scored all three goals for the Orange in a 3-0 win over the Raiders, notching a hat trick that helped rejuvenate SU’s attack and get them back in the win column.

It wasn’t an easy start to the season for the senior midfielder from Miami, Florida — which made his performance Tuesday night that much more rewarding, both for him and for the team.

“Nine games without a goal or an assist was very frustrating,” Zambrano said after the game. “Today was my day, but it was also the team’s day.”

After a chippy first half that resulted in no goals for either side, Syracuse got off to a quick start coming out of the break. The ‘Cuse, who had struggled to get anything serious going on the attack in the first forty five minutes, registered four shots within the first five minutes of the second half. 

Not too long after, Syracuse got its breakthrough when substitute winger Sachiel Ming drew a penalty. 

SU had failed to convert both of its previous kicks from the spot this season. But Carlos Zambrano confidently stepped up and slotted his penalty directly down the middle, beating Colgate’s Eric Widrick and giving Syracuse a 1-0 lead. 

“Over the summer, I had some unfortunate pens,” Zambrano said. “But today, I stepped up and I was very calm.” 

Just two minutes later, Zambrano did something even more amazing. After Sachiel Ming’s shot on goal was pushed out for a corner, Zambrano curled the ensuing corner kick into the back of the net, scoring an incredible Olimpico to put SU up by two goals. 

Then to cap it off, in the 66th minute, Zambrano completed his hat trick, driving a beautifully hit ball with his weaker left foot into the bottom far corner of the net. 

“I’ve been working on that since I was 10,” Zambrano said, in reference to his perfectly placed weak foot goal. 

Ultimately, Zambrano’s contributions helped Syracuse secure a 3-0 victory over their interstate foes. 

For Syracuse head coach Ian McIntyre, Tuesday’s win marked a significant milestone. With the victory, McIntyre became the winningest coach in program history, collecting his 142nd win in Orange.

“We won two games our first year. We won three games the second year. So, I don’t think I ever thought about being here this long,” McIntyre said. “This is home, and I’ve been very fortunate to have wonderful support from the university.”

When asked what the milestone meant to him, McIntyre was unselfish. 

“First home win of the season, that’s the enjoyable part,” McIntyre said, demonstrating the team-first mentality he has embraced in his fifteen years here at Syracuse. 

Kickoff for Saturday’s matchup between the Orange and the Golden Bears is set for 6 p.m.

Now, the team looks to keep winning at a crucial time in the season, with some pivotal ACC contests ahead. This Saturday, Cuse will be all the way across the country in the Golden State, taking on the University of California. 

“The ACC is good competition. It’s always a tough battle,” said SU goalkeeper Tomas Hut. “But I think this win brings us a lot of momentum.”