Going into Syracuse’s match against American on Sept. 11, Louis Clark was already nursing an injury. By the time the week’s training was complete, he had torn his groin.

But Clark played through the injury and scored SU’s first goal in its 2-1 overtime win over the Eagles. Even with the injury, he kept the same mindset of trying to score more goals for the Orange.

‘I’m just trying to score as many goals as possible,’ Clark said. ‘That’s all I want to do. I’m just trying to help the team put the ball in the back of the net.’

Because of injuries — most notably that groin tear — Clark has only played in six of SU’s (2-7-1, 0-2-1 Big East) 10 games in 2011. But he is still tied for the team lead in goals with two. It’s a sign of his resiliency, toughness and dedication to improving his offense during the spring and summer.

His knack for scoring was developed during the spring training sessions, when the Orange was left with a shell of its former team. Some players graduated, others simply left the team. With only 17 players on the roster for spring ball — including some who were new to SU — someone had to step in and produce.

That’s when Clark, a junior who transferred to Syracuse, took charge. He was the leading scorer for SU in the spring.

‘Louis was here in the spring and was arguably our most attacking, exciting player,’ SU head coach Ian McIntyre said. ‘He gave us that cutting edge that perhaps we lacked last fall. So he’s been a tremendous pickup.’

Despite his success, Clark said his injuries have held him back from scoring even more this season. Once he’s fully healthy, he said, he can be more productive than what teammates and fans have seen so far.

‘I think there’s a lot more to my playing than what I’m giving right now,’ Clark said. ‘When I’m back fully training, I definitely think there’s more to come. I don’t have a goal of how many goals I want to score or anything like that, but I’m definitely trying to score quite a few more goals.’

The two goals he’s netted so far have come in opposite fashion from one another. His first goal of the season came against American on the heels of that groin injury. He scored an unassisted goal, chasing after his own rebound and scoring

His second goal against Pittsburgh on Oct. 1 involved at least 10 passes down the field. The final pass came to Clark from midfielder Ted Cribley, and he finished the sequence by putting the ball in the back of the net.

Though he’s still not fully healthy, he’s closer than he was earlier this season. Playing through the injury only made it worse, but he remains focused on getting back into the lineup more consistently and transferring his scoring outburst from the spring onto the field this fall.

McIntyre said Clark comes ready to work every day and is one of the first to practice and last to leave. And come game time, he’s nearly held up his end of the bargain by scoring two of SU’s 11 goals this season, while hurt.

Forward Dan Summers sees Clark’s explosiveness and energy on the field when they’re playing together. While Summers has played in every game and Clark hasn’t, Clark has made an impression on Summers when the two have played together.

Many times, the pair will be up front on offense for Syracuse. From just a few yards away, Summers has seen Clark’s ability to make a quick move and then take a strike toward goal. He keeps the offense alive.

‘He’s dangerous when he’s got the ball and he’s running at people,’ Summers said.

Dangerous is a word multiple people used to describe Clark’s on-field exploits. And when he is back to 100 percent, the Orange is hoping he threatens the opponent’s defense on a nightly basis.

He still has more to offer.

‘When he’s played, he’s caused teams problems,’ McIntyre said. ‘I think he’s caused other teams headaches.’

rnmarcus@syr.edu

Published on October 10, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Rachel: rnmarcus@syr.edu