The No. 4 Clemson United took down the No. 5 Louisville Cardinals in dominant fashion in the ACC Semifinals at Historic Riggs Field this past Wednesday by a score of 5-1. The victory secured the Tigers a place in the ACC finals for the fourth time in the last five years, as they look to capture their second title in the last five years.
The Tigers were led by midfielder Ousmane Sylla, who had yet another dominant performance with his third multi-goal game of the season. Sylla netted two goals in quick succession, one in the 31st minute and another in the 36th.
“He’s been massively important to our program. Everybody can see the talent. It’s everything else that completes the player. All the intangible things, the hard work, the way he makes his teammates better, just comes to the facility every day and just doing what he does. He’s very very special,” Head Coach Mike Noonan said, noting Sylla’s contributions to the team.
Head Coach Mike Noonan
Sylla’s performance alone would have been enough to lift the Tigers past the Cardinals, but three other players also tacked on. Freshman Forward Remi Okunlola opened the scoring early in the match, while forward Isaiah Easley and defender Gael Gibert’s goals sealed the win in the second half. Defender Arthur Duquenne also provided three of the assists.
The Tigers showcased their dominance not only offensively but also defensively, holding Louisville to just three shots during the match, with only one of them on target. Coach Noonan described his defense as “fantastic,” though he expressed a slight disappointment at missing a clean sheet, highlighting the room for improvement leading into the ACC Championship.
The Tigers were able to rotate their players frequently throughout the match, with only two of the starters playing the full 90 minutes, ensuring that key players are well-rested for the upcoming ACC Championship.
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Coach Noonan expressed his pride to be representing Clemson in the ACC Championship, emphasizing that this had been a goal from the beginning of the season.
His final comment being, “Now we have to win it.”
Head Coach Mike Noonan
Following this match, the Tigers will take some time to celebrate and rest before the ACC Championship. It’s worth noting that the Tigers have not had the opportunity to face the North Carolina Tar Heels yet this season. As they look ahead to their upcoming matchup in the ACC Championship, they will begin game planning for a new opponent in the following days.
The ACC Championship is scheduled for Sunday, November 12th at noon in Cary, North Carolina, as the Tigers have the opportunity to secure their sixth ACC championship victory.
