In a heart-stopping showdown that saw both teams locked at 3-3 after overtime, the Clemson men’s soccer emerged victorious against the Duke Blue Devils on Sunday’s ACC Championship quarterfinal. The triumph was earned from the penalty spot, where Clemson showed nerves of steel, converting all four attempts and advancing to the semifinals courtesy of a decisive save from goalkeeper Joseph Andema.
The match, held at Historic Riggs Field, was a rollercoaster ride of emotions, displaying the grit, determination, and resilience of both collegiate teams.
From the first whistle, the Tigers came out roaring. Goalkeeper Andema set the tone with a spectacular save, punching the ball away to keep the game scoreless. Tyler Trimnal opened the scoring for Clemson just over ten minutes into the game, connecting with a pass from Ousmane Sylla to slot the ball past Duke’s Julian Eyestone.
Despite an equalizer from Duke late in the first half, the Tigers were undeterred. Andema continued his heroics between the sticks, pulling off a series of remarkable saves, including two back-to-back stops that left fans and opponents alike in awe.
Trimnal proved instrumental once more, heading in a cross from Remi Okunlola to level the score at two-all. The drama escalated in overtime, with Alex Meinhard capitalizing on a Duke yellow card to put Clemson ahead. However, Duke’s Ulfur Bjornsson managed to claw one back, sending the game into a nail-biting penalty shootout.
Representing Clemson in the shootout were Sylla, Joran Gerbet, Gael Gibert, and Jackson Wrobel, each showing composure under pressure to find the back of the net. But it was Andema who truly sealed the deal, saving Duke’s second penalty kick to put the Tigers ahead. A wide shot from Duke and a final successful penalty from Wrobel clinched Clemson’s 4-1 victory in the shootout.
The win marks a significant step forward for the Clemson team, which has demonstrated immense growth and resilience throughout the season. As head coach Mike Noonan said after the match, “We have grown and learned a lot this year. It shows in matches like this when things get very difficult. I couldn’t be more proud of our players, coaches, support staff, and fans! Big time!”
Clemson now looks ahead to their semifinal matchup against Louisville on Wednesday, November 8, at Historic Riggs Field, following Louisville’s upset win over top-seeded Notre Dame. The stage is set for another thrilling encounter as the Tigers continue their quest for ACC Championship glory.
