Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our sports newsletter here.

During Syracuse’s 2022 National Championship run, Giona Leibold played a key role in the Orange becoming College Cup Champions. Leibold scored five goals and 12 points on the year, including the game-winning goal in the 83rd minute against Cornell to send SU to the NCAA Quarterfinals.

But just seven games into 2023, Leibold went down with an undisclosed injury. He was sidelined for the rest of the year, leaving the Orange without one of their top scoring options. On Friday, Leibold heard his name called again and started his first game since Sept. 8, 2023.

“Of course I felt nervous after such a long time,” Leibold said postgame. “But I’m just happy to be back out there and help the boys.”

Leibold played in two games in 2024 before his start, registering 17 minutes against Le Moyne and 38 against Boston College. Friday, though, marked his official return.

Leibold and Syracuse (2-2-2, 0-1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) fell to No. 17 Virginia Tech (5-0-1, 1-0 ACC) 2-0, marking the Orange’s fourth straight game without a win. Despite the loss, head coach Ian McIntyre was happy to see Leibold back in action.

“It’s been a long last year for Giona,” McIntyre said. “Absolutely thrilled to see him on the field.”

Out of the gate, Leibold had a new energy to his step. In the first minute, VT defender Willie Cardona received a pass from down low, with a wide-open field in front of him. Cardona sped toward the ball and received it in stride. Leibold, who was helping down low, flew up the field toward Cardona to quickly close the gap. Cardona was forced to stop in his tracks and find a passing lane.

In the fifth minute, Leibold got involved with SU’s offensive attack. After receiving the ball at midfield, Leibold dished a perfect through ball to Nicholas Kaloukian, who sped through the middle of VT’s backline. Yet, Kaloukian was offside, thwarting the chance.

Michael Acquah found Leibold steaming down the left sideline in the 17th minute. Leibold received the ball near the top of the goalie box and worked down. He found a streaking Kaloukian in front of goalkeeper Cooper Wenzel and dished. Kaloukian whiffed on the header, however, allowing Wenzel to gather the ball. Although SU didn’t score, it was exactly what Leibold was looking to do.

“I want to bring my game to the field,” Leibold said. “My quickness, with my experience and versatility along the flank, providing crosses and hopefully provide an assist for our strikers.”

In the 25th minute, Leibold got the ball on the outside from Andre Cutler-DeJesus. VT midfielder Ethan Hackenberg had inside position on the feed, but Leibold’s quick first step immediately allowed him to gain the edge. He circled the midfielder and cut inside, where he tried to feed Nathan Scott. Leibold attempted to feed Scott through two Hokie defenders, and the pass was cut off.

“To see him flying around the field (was great),” McIntyre said. “I hope he stays healthy, and I hope he gets better and stronger.”

Leibold was subbed out in the 32nd minute but returned to start the second half. Again, he came out hot. In the 47th minute, the Hokies left Leibold open on the outside again, this time getting the ball from Ezra Widman in the middle. Leibold took one step and fired a cross toward the back post. Ernest Bawa was there, but VT’s Trey Gardiner got in the way at the last moment to clear.

The Orange used Leibold’s speed in space in the 52nd minute, as Kristjan Fortier worked the ball down the right side. Fortier saw a streaking Leibold and ripped a perfect pass right to his left foot.

Leibold crossed to the middle, where Bawa and Carlos Zambrano lurked. Bawa crashed down to make contact with the ball, yet Yonis Kireh got his foot in at the last second to poke it away. After a scramble, Zambrano reset by finding Leibold near the corner.

Leibold one-touched to Bawa a second time. Though Gardiner knocked it away again.

“This was a good test,” Leibold said. “They’re a good Virginia Tech team, they’re gonna win a lot of games along the road.”

A yellow card was issued to Leibold in the 55th minute after he tripped CJ Coppola.

Virginia Tech lined up for a free kick near midfield in the 59th minute. Leibold served as the only player to defend the shooter up top. Instead of sending a shot toward the net, Alex Perez fed Cardona in the middle. Leibold bolted toward the defender, forcing him to give back to Perez. Again, Leibold was on top of Perez in an instant.

Perez gave the ball back to Cardona, who put a weak attempt on net, allowing the Orange to knock it away easily.

Leibold was subbed out just eight seconds before Perez put Virginia Tech up 1-0. Two minutes later, the Hokies extended their lead to 2-0, all but sealing the match. Even though Syracuse fell short, the “silver lining,” according to McIntyre, was Leibold.

“It means a lot after having such a long, rough, recovery,” Leibold said. “Just to be back out there and competing with your boys, that’s all you wish for.”

Published on September 14, 2024 at 12:14 am

Contact Nick: nsjepson@syr.edu