Clemson men’s soccer went on the road again and knocked off fourth-seeded Wake Forest in the ACC Semifinal match on Wednesday night by a score of 2-0.
In the victory at Spry Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Clemson midfielders Brandon Parrish and Derek Waleffe found the net again, both scoring in their second consecutive match.
The Tigers took control of the match immediately, establishing a high pressure and a strong offensive presence to force the Demon Deacons (14-5-0) to turn the ball over.
Clemson struck first early. In the 14th minute, Parrish fired a shot out from 25 yards away, getting past Wake Forest goalkeeper Trace Alphin and finding the top left corner for his second goal of the tournament.
The Demon Deacons had no shots in the first half compared to the Tigers’ nine.
Although Wake Forest began to pick up the pace, Clemson’s midfield and defense stood strong, limiting only two shots for freshman goalkeeper Joseph Andema to deal with in the second half.
But later, in the 60th minute, Waleffe doubled the lead for the Tigers. After the Demon Deacons’ defense poorly cleared a corner by Clemson forward Isaiah Reid, the ball fell to Waleffe, who fired a half-volley past Alphin into the top right corner for a two-goal cushion.
The only trouble for the Tigers came with six minutes to go when Wake Forest striker Roald Mitchell slid a slow shot past an incoming Andema, going wide of the right goalpost.
Outside of that chance, the Tigers’ midfield and defense held strong, giving the freshman goalkeeper his eighth shutout in 14 starts.
After the Demon Deacons scored six on Mike Noonan’s squad earlier in the season on Sept. 25, the most goals allowed in his tenure, the Tigers (13-5-1) got their revenge, advancing to their fourth ACC Championship game since Noonan took the job in 2008.
Clemson has been a familiar face in the ACC Championship in the past years, reaching the final three times in the last four years and winning it in 2020.
The Tigers will now head to Cary, North Carolina, to take on the Syracuse Orange in the final on Sunday at noon. Fans can watch the game on ESPNU and ACC Network.
Clemson shuts out Wake Forest, advances to ACC Championship match
Griffin Barfield, Senior Reporter
November 10, 2022
Ana Paula Gonzalez, Contributor
Clemson defender Joey Skinner celebrates with teammates during the Tigers’ match against the University of Massachusetts at Historic Riggs Field on Oct. 24, 2022.
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