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Sergio Camargo fought off the snow to score twice in Syracuse's 3-0 win over Dartmouth in a NCAA Tournament game Sunday at the SU Soccer Stadium.

(Syracuse Athletic Communications)

Syracuse, N.Y. — Several minutes after he came in from the cold Sunday afternoon, Syracuse soccer forward Chris Nanco still sported thermal gloves.

It looked like the eventual removal of those accessories might require a blowtorch. Nanco and his teammates had just battled through 90 minutes of arctic climate to beat Dartmouth 3-0 in a NCAA Tournament second-round game at the SU Soccer Stadium, and blood was a long ways away from freely flowing through everyone's limbs.

"I'm a small guy. I get cold really easily,'' said the 5-foot-6 Nanco. "I probably wear the most equipment at practice when it's weather like this. I never get used to it. But it's conditions that we have to play in and you can't use it as an excuse.''

At least, for Syracuse at least, the frostbite paid dividends.

Nanco scored once and Sergio Camargo added two goals to move the No. 8 Orangemen (12-3-4) into the next round of the tournament. Syracuse, which reached the national semifinals last season, will host No. 9 North Carolina at 2 p.m. Nov. 27. The Tar Heels beat Florida Gulf Coast in overtime Sunday night.

The key strategic decision of the day was made 24 hours ago, when SU officials glanced at the weather report and decided to move the game from 2 p.m. to noon. The contest began amid strong gusts but light flurries. By the time the second half started, the swirling snow started to coat the field, turning it into a surface more akin to an ice rink.

"To be honest with you I don't think we play that game in the regular season,'' said Big Green coach Chad Riley. "I've been in college soccer since 2000, and I don't think I've ever played in a game like that.''

Visibility grew very poor poor, and during breaks workers had to come out with heaters to defrost lines on the field.

"I've never been through something like that,'' Camargo said. "That was coming down pretty strong. The adrenaline definitely helps, but you still feel it sometimes especially when you fall or when you stop.''

The field players were the lucky ones. Orange goalie Henrik Hilpert, who made four saves, tried to stay warm by sprinting around his end of the field when play was paused.

"I'm usually not jealous of the players, that they're running so much. But today I would have maybe joined them from time to time (to stay warm),'' said Hilpert, who is now tied for second on Syracuse's single-season shutout record list with 11. "It was very tough. But it shows the character of this team and the mentality that we were able to leave everything out there to show such a good performance.''

Even Orange coach Ian McIntyre, who often tries to brave such climate wearing only a sweater, pulled on a heavy winter coat.

"I was told today by my family I had to wear a coat,'' he said. "When my wife tells me I've got to wear a coat, I wear a coat. I want to be able to be able to have dinner this evening.''

But when it came time ignore the stinging chill and play soccer, the dominant Orange quickly took care of business.

Camargo set up his team's first goal just 6:45 into the contest, ripping a shot at Dartmouth goalie James Hickok. Hickok made the save but the rebound flew to Nanco, who easily put it home.

"This was a game that was better to be ahead than to be trying to chase it,'' McIntyre said. "Footing was tough. When the conditions were good first half, I thought our ball movement was very good. We really found some good spaces.''

Camargo struck for his first with 21:34 left in the half. He worked a give-and go with Johannes Pieles, and Pieles slipped him a beautiful return pass. Camargo easily converted on his point-blank chance.

"You try to chase the game in those conditions, it makes it very difficult,'' Riley said.

"We were just moving,'' Camargo said. "We were moving faster than they were. They are a big team, so we knew that we had to move away from their big players and get open quickly.''

Early in the second half, Camargo, er, iced the game. With 30:53 remaining in the contest, he danced through the Big Green defense and faked out Hickok before drilling in his bid.

That left the Orange to wait and see which warm-weather foe it will welcome on Sunday.

"What a wonderful time of year. Playoff soccer, to play at home in Syracuse,'' McIntyre said. "We wanted this weather next week when you've got North Carolina or a Florida team coming to town. I'm sure they watched the game today and I'm sure they had some conniptions watching white stuff on the field.''

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