WOMEN'S BASKETBAL

Hillsman allows Coffey to make mistakes, continue to grow to become consistent scorer for Syracuse

BY TREVOR HASSSTAFF WRITER

Published October 17, 2012 at 12:15 am

Head coach Quentin Hillsman sensed frustration mounting in point guard Rachel Coffey midway through last season.

Bombarded with constant instructions from the coaching staff, Coffey veered away from playing her game and looked lost on the court. Turnovers and missed shots piled up as Coffey was out of her element.

Then Hillsman had an idea.

He decided to completely back off Coffey and let her play her game.

The fix worked to perfection, as the point guard emerged as Syracuse’s star player over the final five games and carried the Orange to a berth in the semifinals of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament.

“He used to take me out every time I made a mistake,” Coffey said. “Then he just let me play. I looked at it as this was my chance to play so I need to take advantage of it.”

That’s exactly what she did. In the WNIT quarterfinal against Toledo, Coffey exploded for 23 points, including six three pointers, and six assists.

Down by three with less than 10 seconds to go, Coffey knew she had to make a play. She burst left, crossed over to her right hand and pulled up for a fadeaway 30-footer.

The year before, Coffey attempted a remarkably similar shot. Down by three against the same team in the same round of the WNIT, she unleashed a three in the waning seconds. That time, the shot clanked off the rim, as the Orange came up just short.

When given a second chance, though, with redemption on her mind, Coffey drained the three-pointer, tying the game at 64. The Orange went on to win in thrilling fashion, 74-73, before falling to James Madison in the semifinals.

The opportunity to play her game without constantly worrying about making a mistake paved the way for a dominant WNIT performance for Coffey, who averaged 11.8 points per game in SU’s WNIT run compared to 4.7 during the regular season.

“Once I let her play her game and backed off so much instruction, she started playing better,” Hillsman said. “That was an easy fix. Step off, let her play and leave her alone.”

After only scoring in double digits once through mid-January, Coffey finished in double figures seven times down the stretch and became Syracuse’s most reliable scoring option.

“It was really humbling to know that I’m finally doing something here and contributing,” Coffey said. “It just really felt good that I was able to make that shot after what happened last season.”

After her breakout performance late last season, Coffey has now solidified her spot as SU’s starting point guard going into her junior year. Hillsman said it is Coffey’s job unless someone takes it from her.

Senior guard Carmen Tyson-Thomas said Coffey stepped into a leadership role during the WNIT last season and carried Syracuse toward the end of the season.

“We had to find leadership from somewhere and you can’t just get it through your seniors,” Tyson-Thomas said. “You have to have a floor general. Seeing her come into that role has been amazing. It’s something that happened right before all of our eyes, and she stepped up and she’s been big for us.”

On a roster full of seniors, Tyson-Thomas said Coffey is now the unquestioned leader on the court. Tyson-Thomas said the fact that Hillsman was a point guard himself makes Coffey’s job especially demanding because he expects a lot out of his star point guard.

Despite these high expectations, Hillsman plans to continue to use a hands-off approach when coaching Coffey. Her instant offense and command of the floor were present in stretches last season, but this year Hillsman hopes to see that productivity every game from his starting point guard.

“She really has matured into that role,” Hillsman said. “I think that as we’re going forward, her maturity and role are going to be the difference in a few games.

“I’m just really happy that she got going at the end of the year, and hopefully that helps her confidence going into this season.”

Contact Trevor: tbhass@syr.edu

Sam Maller | Asst. Photo Editor

Jordan Murrell has been a key component of a Syracuse defense that has allowed just nine goals this season. The sophomore defender has also contributed on the offensive end with two goals and five assists, three of which have come to corner kicks.

MEN'S SOCCER

Murrell continues journey to become strong defender for SU

BY TREVOR HASSSTAFF WRITER

Published October 17, 2012 at 2:54 am

A few hours before every home game, Jordan Murrell zones everything else out and focuses on a different kind of game before he steps onto the soccer field.

After a 10-minute run and dribbling warm up, Murrell sits in his apartment and zeroes in on the TV screen. Eyes locked in, fingers in place, he goes to work as music by Trey Songz, Usher or Chris Brown plays in the background.

It’s Call of Duty time.

“People ask me why I do that,” Murrell said. “It just calms me mentally. I’m not too bad. I try to keep up with the rest of the world that plays all the time.”

So far this season that pregame preparation has worked for the sophomore Murrell, who has excelled as a defender for Syracuse. Murrell has anchored an Orange defense that has held opponents to nine goals on the season. He has also chipped in with some timely offense, contributing two goals and five assists.

Shining on a soccer field is nothing new for Murrell, who was born and raised in England. Judith Murrell, Jordan’s mother, said her son was wearing shin pads at 18 months old and became infatuated with the game when he watched his older brother, Joel, play.

One day, Joel was taking a team photograph and Jordan got a little jealous. He saw an opening and quickly darted into the picture, going as fast as his 18-month legs would motor.

“We knew then that he was focused and driven about playing soccer,” Judith Murrell said.

Murrell continued to hone his game on the streets of England. He said players ranged from 3 to 25 years old, so he got accustomed to playing against stronger, faster opponents at a young age.

He used to come home from school, grab his soccer ball and head out to the streets for hours.

“When I could walk I got a ball put in my feet,” Murrell said. “I used to play outside in front of my house from when I got home from school until the lights went off and I had to go inside.”

At the age of 12, Murrell left his life in England to move to Ontario, Canada. His stepfather, who was originally from Canada, decided the move would be the best way for Murrell and his two younger sisters to get a superior education.

When he arrived in Canada, Murrell continued to improve on the field and elevated his game to the next level. He joined the Unionville Milliken Soccer Club, where he played under Filipe Bento.

Bento recalls one game where he drew up a play in a frenzy to try to tie the score in the waning minutes. He called Murrell over and gave him quick, last-second instructions on how to take the free kick.

Worried that he didn’t provide Murrell with enough details, Bento was blown away when he executed the kick to perfection. Murrell sent a perfectly placed pass toward the goal and a teammate found the back of the net for the decisive goal.

“He was always very intelligent,” Bento said. “We could see that he had promise and a future in soccer. He had something different that the other kids didn’t have.”

That intelligence and talent has translated to two successful seasons at Syracuse, and he has his eyes on a Big East championship and an NCAA tournament berth this year.

Against formidable conference foes Rutgers and Louisville, Murrell ignited the Orange with three assists — all of them coming off corner kicks.

Against Rutgers, Murrell lined up for a corner two minutes into overtime. He zeroed in on teammate Lars Muller and lofted the ball toward the goal.

Bull’s-eye.

Murrell hit Muller in stride and the forward’s header beat the keeper, giving Syracuse a win in its first overtime game of the season. Earlier in the game, Murrell set up Jordan Vale beautifully on a corner and Vale timed it perfectly for a score.

Head coach Ian McIntyre moved Murrell to left back because of his on-ball defense and ability to move forward and attack after making a stop. That strategy has worked flawlessly as Murrell has stopped defenders with poise and confidence.

Though Murrell played well for Syracuse last season, McIntyre has seen considerable improvement from the sophomore, who has grown into a vocal leader on a team that has done a 180.

“I think he’s more consistent and mentally tougher,” McIntyre said. “He has more resilience to his game. We’ve moved him to left back because of his quality on the ball. As he showed the other night, he’s got a very sweet left foot.”

Contact Trevor: tbhass@syr.edu

Courtesy of The Philadelphia Inquirer

Rysheed Jordan, a Philadelphia native and a senior guard at Vaux Roberts High School, will attend Orange Madness at Syracuse on Friday night. Jordan would be next in the long line of Syracuse basketball players from Philadelphia.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Recruit Jordan to attend Orange Madness at Syracuse on Friday as part of official visit

BY TREVOR HASSSTAFF WRITER

Published October 10, 2012 at 2:54 am

Over the past five years, Syracuse has been a mecca for talented basketball players from Philadelphia.

Head coach Jim Boeheim and assistant coach Mike Hopkins have lured a star-studded group to come play for the Orange, including Dion Waiters, Scoop Jardine and Rick Jackson.

Philadelphia native Rysheed Jordan may be the next player to join that list. Jordan, a senior guard at Vaux Roberts High School, will attend Orange Madness at Syracuse on Friday night as part of his official visit to campus. Syracuse is one of seven schools on Jordan’s radar. He said Friday’s visit will help determine whether SU is the right school for him.

Jordan’s list was originally at 11 schools, but he recently cut it down to seven: Alabama, Rutgers, St. Johns, Syracuse, Temple, UCLA and Xavier. He said attending Syracuse is definitely a possibility, largely because of the players from Philadelphia who have come before him.

“Out of all the Philly players that went to Syracuse, a lot have gone on to play at the next level,” Jordan said. “I think Syracuse is like Philly. When I’ve talked to Philly players they’ve told me how great it is.”

Watching Dion Waiters make the jump from a dependable role player to one of the most electrifying players in college basketball and the eventual No. 4 pick in the NBA draft was particularly appealing for Jordan.

Syracuse’s style of play and the way the Orange gets up and down the floor are also selling points for Jordan. Playing in a 2-3 zone is not an issue for Jordan, who said he has great respect for Boeheim’s and Hopkins’ methods.

Jordan, now the No. 16 point guard and No. 64 overall recruit in the country, according to ESPN, wasn’t always a star. He didn’t play AAU basketball until the ninth grade, which is much later than most players of his caliber.

That’s when Philly Pride director Kamal Yard finally brought him aboard. Yard had watched Jordan play for more than four years on the playground and in recreational leagues, but couldn’t get him to join the Pride.

In the ninth grade, that all changed.

Yard made his case for why Jordan should play for the Pride yet again. This time, the message clicked with Jordan. Now that he was in high school and getting serious about basketball, he knew playing for the Pride would help take his game to the next level.

“He’s the classic late bloomer at AAU,” Yard said. “He’s relatively new to the whole AAU thing, which actually is really good, because he’s not spoiled by the process.”

Jordan’s first dominant game as a member of the Pride came during his sophomore season. The Pride traveled to Pittsburgh to play in a tournament. Yard wanted his team to get as much out of the experience as it possibly could, so he asked the tournament director to play Team Takeover, the No. 1 AAU team in the entire country.

Yard pushed his team to “shoot for the big fish,” and he knew Jordan would do everything in his power to help his team win the game.

Jordan was up for the challenge, dropping 30 points and keeping his outmatched team within striking distance for the majority of the game before Team Takeover pulled away.

“Rysheed was unbelievable,” Yard said. “He was slashing and finishing over the top of those guys and making his teammates better. He was highly spirited and highly competitive. Defensively he was a thorn in the a**.”

Yard said the game against Team Takeover helped elevate Jordan’s game immensely and put him in the national spotlight.

“It was really like his coming-out party,” he said. “Everything mushroomed from there.”

Two years later, Jordan’s game has continued to develop. FOXSportNext.com recruiting analyst Evan Daniels said Jordan excels at getting into the paint and finishing around the rim. He uses his size and strength to maneuver around defenders and convert at the basket.

Both Daniels and ESPN recruiting analyst Dave Telep believe Jordan will be used as a combo guard in college and can help a team right away.

Telep said Jordan has a lot of potential, but still has to improve certain elements of his game, such as his jump shot and passing ability.

“He has innate physical ability to get into the paint,” Telep said. “I think the next step is adding some pace into his game, slowing down and being a game manager.”

Contact Trevor: tbhass@syr.edu

MEN'S SOCCER

Syracuse dominates possession battle in 2-0 victory over Massachusetts

BY TREVOR HASSSTAFF WRITER

Published September 25, 2012 at 11:14 pm

All season, Ian McIntyre has placed emphasis on urging his team to keep fighting and add a second goal to separate itself from opponents. The Syracuse head coach has often watched his defense have to stave off late comeback attempts in nail-biting games.

The Orange finally gave itself a cushion late in its game on Tuesday against Massachusetts in Amherst, Mass. Skylar Thomas scored in the 76th minute to propel Syracuse (8-2, 1-0) to a 2-0 win over the Minutemen (3-4-2, 0-0). Thomas received a pass from Jordan Murrell and took a shot on goal. After his first attempt dinged off the post, he retrieved his own miss and beat the goalie, icing the game for the Orange.

“When that second goal went in, it gave us a little cushion and we did a good job finishing the game,” McIntyre said in a phone interview.

SU outshot UMass 16-4 and attempted 10 corner kicks compared to none for the Minutemen.

McIntyre said his team came out aggressive from the get-go and put constant pressure on UMass. He said the game wasn’t pretty at times, but the Orange found a way to nullify the Minutemen’s attempts on goal while SU’s offense found the back of the net.

“We were good,” McIntyre said. “Especially in the first half I thought we really pushed ourselves and negated UMass’ opportunities. It’s very important on the road to not sit back and to attack.”

Murrell started the attack for the Orange with a goal in the 17th minute on a left-footed strike from outside the box, giving the visiting team a 1-0 advantage.

Murrell and Thomas provided offense at important moments on Tuesday afternoon.

“It’s nice that we’ve been able to share the goals around a little bit,” McIntyre said. “Today we had two of our defenders scoring, which alleviates some of the pressure on the forward players.”

Murrell and Thomas also anchored a Syracuse defense that prevented UMass from attempting any shots on goal.

Alex Bono returned to the field after a one-game absence following a red card against Cal State Fullerton, but the goalie wasn’t seriously challenged.

Senior Mark Brode also played for the first time since Sept. 3when he helped the Orange rout Colgate 6-0.

Brode played 50 minutes on Tuesday, which is the most he’s amassed all season. He has been recuperating from a fractured finger that kept him sidelined for weeks.

McIntyre said it was great to see Brode back out on the field and playing substantial minutes.

“We’ve got such a young team that it was very pleasing to have a senior go out there and settle things down,” McIntyre said. “I’m delighted for him because he’s been a big part of our team on and off the field.”

While Bono and Brode returned for Syracuse, senior forward Lars Muller missed his second straight game. McIntyre said Muller is getting treatment on a groin injury.

McIntyre said he hopes Muller will be ready to go when the Orange faces Cincinnati on Saturday night.

McIntyre said Cincinnati is a very athletic and technically sound opponent, and that his team is in for a challenge in its first Big East road game. Despite the difficult matchup, McIntyre believes his players will be ready for yet another road game.

“We’re a team that’s shown resilience to go on the road and get results,” McIntyre said. “Now we’re gonna need those same results as we go on the road in conference play.”

Contact Trevor: tbhass@syr.edu

Sam Maller | Staff Photographer

Freshman goalkeeper Alex Bono has enjoyed a successful start to his Syracuse career, posting six shutouts to help the program to its best start in more than a decade.

Area product Bono lives up to high expectations in net for Syracuse

BY TREVOR HASSSTAFF WRITER

Published September 18, 2012 at 1:42 am

As Alex Bono weighed his college choices, his father asked him a simple question.

He asked whether or not his son, a top recruit, wanted to go to a Top-25 school or an up-and-coming program looking to change its culture.

“It’s really appealing to me to go to a team that is on the rise and is really trying to progress, and have the opportunity to be on the team that really turns the program around,” Bono said.

Bono found that at Syracuse, he could play right away, and through eight games, he has led a previously struggling program to a 6-2 start while posting six shutouts. He was rated the No. 1 recruit in New York by TopDrawerSoccer.com and was listed as the sixth-best goalkeeper by ESPN Rise. The freshman goalie from Baldwinsville considered St. John’s, Northeastern, Georgetown and Villanova, but ultimately decided to stay close to home and try to improve a team that finished 3-12-1 a season ago.

Bono hopes his terrific play translates to the Big East. Syracuse faces off against Seton Hall on Saturday at SU Soccer Stadium.

Head coach Ian McIntyre has been impressed by Bono’s ability to lead the team and make clutch saves as a freshman.

“I think, for a young goalkeeper, he’s commanded his area very well,” McIntyre said. “He’s stopping a lot of aerial threats. Balls have been put in there and he’s got the confidence to come and claim them, and that presence for a young goalkeeper is very impressive.”

Bono’s destiny as a top-notch goalie wasn’t always set in stone. He didn’t start playing soccer until the age of 8 or 9. At 6 feet 3 inches and 195 pounds, Bono always had a passion for basketball and had a tough time deciding which sport to pursue.

He played basketball through his freshman year of high school, but he then realized that his future was in soccer and committed to the sport.

“He really liked basketball a lot, but as time went on, he really excelled at soccer,” his father, Mark Bono, said. “At some point in time, you have to give up one, and it was basketball.”

Bono’s decision to give up basketball and dedication to soccer paved the way for a spot on Empire United to play for U-16 coach Paul Valenti and U-18 coach Ben Cross.

Valenti said much of Bono’s success on Empire United, and now with Syracuse, can be attributed to the size of his hands.

“He’s got enormous hands,” Valenti said. “He loves to shake people’s hands or give people five. Especially other coaches, because I think he wants them to know how big his hands are as a goalie. We always bust his chops about that.”

Cross said that Bono is always trying to improve and is never content with settling for anything less than his best. Mark Bono said that Alex’s drive is what makes him such a terrific goalie and that he has helped his brother become a better goalie over the years.

“He hates to lose,” Mark Bono said. “He’s just that kind of kid who’s going to give 110 percent every time he steps on the field. He once told his younger brother, ‘When you step on the field, you have to play every game like it’s your last game,’ and that’s what he does.”

That vocal leadership and passion has translated to the college level, as Bono has already won Big East Goalkeeper of the Week and saved 27 shots en route to six wins.

Teammate Lars Muller noted Bono’s vocal leadership as a particular strength and said he has a strong voice on the team, despite being a freshman.

“I think, first of all, it’s his personality on the field,” Muller said. “He always knows what he’s going to do, his shouting is really good and the way he talks is unbelievable. I think he’s got the whole package.”

Syracuse defender Jordan Murrell said having Bono in net improves the play of the defense because of his constant communication and command of the team. His confidence permeates the entire SU backline.

Freshman Stefanos Stamoulacatos, who played with Bono on Empire United, said Bono’s presence and poise in goal is what differentiates him from other keepers.

“It’s those moments where we need it most where he makes that amazing save,” Stamoulacatos said. “There are so many things that I could name off. He’s just a great all-around keeper.”

Contact Trevor: tbhass@syr.edu

Courtesy of Stony Brook Athletic Communications

Marcus Coker will lead a talented rushing attack when Stony Brook plays Syracuse this Saturday. Coker, who was a star at Iowa, transferred to Stony Brook after he was suspended in 2011.

Hitting home: After controversial exit from Iowa, Coker finds fresh start at Stony Brook

BY TREVOR HASSSTAFF WRITER

Published September 12, 2012 at 3:02 am

Marcus Coker opened the front door of his Beltsville, Md., home and walked inside. After two years at Iowa — more than 900 miles away from his mother — Coker now has the chance to see her on a regular basis.

Since transferring to Stony Brook in January, Coker has visited home more than 10 times, often without telling his mother, Tammy Money, in advance.

“That’s one of the best surprises ever, to see your kid walk through the door,” Money said.

Coker transferred to Stony Brook after he was suspended for the Insight Bowl following an accusation that he sexually abused a woman. By joining the Seawolves, Coker brings big-time experience from playing in one of the nation’s top conferences. He’s given a significant boost to Stony Brook’s run-heavy offense, which Syracuse will try to contain Saturday at 4 p.m. in the Carrier Dome.

After emerging as the second-leading rusher in the Big Ten in 2011, Coker’s season and life took a dramatic twist on Oct. 28, when Iowa’s athletic department was informed of the accusation.

Coker was not charged, and the case was dropped after the alleged victim decided not to take criminal action. But 10 days before the team’s bowl game — after the case was dropped — the university suspended Coker for violating the UI Student-Athlete Code of Conduct.

His future with the Hawkeyes was in question. He withdrew from Iowa in January, and the direction of his college career was uncertain. Coker began to explore other options, meeting with the Stony Brook coaching staff later that month.

He quickly decided to transfer to the Football Championship Series school, which allowed him to play right away rather than sitting out a season under NCAA transfer rules.

“He chose Stony Brook because he felt like it was the right fit,” Money said. “He really wanted to get right back into the swing of things, and that’s what Stony Brook was offering him.”

Coker has excelled in his first two games at SBU, playing in front of family. He rushed for 157 yards and three touchdowns as part of the team’s high-powered running attack, and he’ll look to continue his hot start this weekend against the Orange.

Head coach Chuck Priore said Coker developed a connection with the players and the campus community during his official visit.

After much deliberation, Coker officially decided to transfer to be closer to home and to his mother. The running back was also intrigued by Stony Brook’s offense, which piled up 3,475 rushing yards in 2011.

“It’s just a downhill, hard type of offense,” Coker said.

Coker has helped the Seawolves total 822 rushing yards through their first two games. He is already an integral part of SBU’s offense, just as he was at Iowa.

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said he expects Coker to continue to excel at Stony Brook.

“What he brought to our team last year was just outstanding play,” Ferentz said during the Big Ten coaches’ teleconference on Sept. 4. “He’s a tough, competitive guy. He’s a strong runner and a great young man.”

Marcus honed his running skills at DeMatha Catholic High School, where he played under coach Bill McGregor. McGregor recalls Coker as a strong player with great speed and toughness.

With Coker lining up in the backfield, McGregor was able to be creative with his play calling.

In one particular game, DeMatha was down three points with one minute remaining. McGregor ran a draw play for Coker, who took it 70 yards for a touchdown to win the game.

“That’s the kind of young man he was,” McGregor said. “You could always count on Marcus to make the big play for us, and he always did.

“I know he had some trouble at Iowa, but he’s a very, very fine young man.”

And now, his mother can support Coker on a weekly basis in person. Money only attended three of his games at Iowa in his two seasons with the Hawkeyes.

She watched her son on TV as he rushed for 1,384 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2011.

Now, she drives more than four hours from Beltsville, Md., to Stony Brook, N.Y., to see him play, but she doesn’t go alone. Money was one of 16 family members to watch Coker play his first game as a member of the Seawolves against Central Connecticut on Sept. 1.

“It just felt totally right,” Money said. “We missed being at games live. We always watched him play on television when he was at Iowa, but to be there in person is amazing.”

Priore said the opportunity for Coker to be closer to his family was an important factor in his decision to transfer.

“They’re a very close family, and the family loves football,” Priore said. “I think he loves to have the opportunity to have them here each and every week.”

Coker appreciates having the chance to play in front of his mom and the rest of his family.

“My mom’s my best friend,” he said. “She used to go to all my practices and games. Now she’ll be able to come out to all the games, and that’s important for her, too.”

Money said he has made the transition smoothly and enjoys the culture of Stony Brook football. His teammates have embraced him as part of the family already.

Coker appreciates spending more time with his mother at home and having her in the stands at every home game.

“I think he loves Stony Brook. He seems to be really happy at Stony Brook,” Money said. “We’re really happy with him here. He loves being able to come home when he wants to.”

Contact Trevor: tbhass@syr.edu

Contact Trevor: tbhass@syr.edu

Murrell, Vale connect to lift Syracuse to 2nd straight win

BY TREVOR HASSSTAFF WRITER

Published August 29, 2012 at 1:18 am

Never before had Jordan Murrell recorded an assist and never before had Jordan Vale scored a goal.

Both changed Tuesday.

Murrell sent the ball into the box on a corner kick and freshman Vale swooped in and headed it into the goal. The goal propelled Syracuse to a 1-0 win over Binghamton, giving the team its second straight victory to open the season.

The win marks the first time since 2006 that SU is 2-0 to start the season.

“We’re very happy to secure a win on the road against a good opponent,” head coach Ian McIntyre said. “It’s a very tough place to play. We knew that going in.”

Syracuse (2-0) controlled the tempo against Binghamton (0-2) much like it did against Albany in the season-opener. The Orange outshot the Bearcats 15-11 and took nine corner kicks compared to two for the home team.

McIntyre said that Syracuse’s play was strong at the beginning of the game but dipped off a bit toward the end of the first half. In the second half, things started to change for the better for McIntyre’s squad.

“Second half I think they came out a bit stronger, but we started to grow and really started to see the difference,” he said. “I thought we worked very hard to frustrate them and limit their chances.”

Vale capitalized on his opportunity in the 59th minute. Murrell sent SU’s seventh corner kick of the match into the middle and Vale connected, knocking the ball into the right side of the net.

Jake Keegan, Binghamton’s all-time leader in career points, took three shots Tuesday night and nearly scored in the 30th minute, but he was not able to place the ball past goalie Alex Bono.

The game was closely contested and evenly played, but the Jordan-to-Jordan corner kick pushed SU over the top.

“We enjoyed it on the bus ride home, but now we realize we’ve got to go back to work, and we have another big game on Friday,” McIntyre said.

Contact Trevor: tbhass@syr.edu