Victoria Harper
The Clemson men's soccer team looks to pick up a ranked win against Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, North Carolina this weekend.
Clemson United will look to build on its recent momentum as the team heads to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to face No. 13 Wake Forest at Spry Stadium.
This highly anticipated matchup marks the first meeting between the two programs since the Tigers fell to the Demon Deacons in overtime during the third round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The two teams also faced each other in the ACC Championship a year ago, where Wake Forest took the win.
The Tigers enter the contest on the heels of a 3-1 victory over the California Golden Bears, a result that improved their record to 4-2-2 overall and 2-0-1 in ACC play. Despite the recent win, Clemson dropped out of the national rankings following disappointing home losses to Queens and VCU — results that underscored the inconsistency that has marked their early season.
Leading the charge for Clemson have been Ransford Gyan and Wahabu Musah, both of whom found the back of the net against Cal. Gyan, in particular, has continued to shine, currently ranking fourth in the nation with seven goals and averaging an impressive 0.88 goals per game — reaffirming his status as one of the most dangerous attackers in college soccer.
Head coach Mike Noonan and his team will look towards different results than the last matchup against Bobby Muuss’ Demon Deacons, hungry for redemption under the Friday night lights. Wake Forest, which remains unbeaten at home this season, will pose a significant challenge. A win on the road could not only avenge last year’s heartbreak but also serve as a statement to reestablish Clemson’s place among the nation’s elite.
Fans can expect a high-energy, emotionally charged showdown when the match kicks off at 6 p.m. on Friday. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU.