The #13 Wake Forest Demon Deacons (5-2-3, 0-2-1 ACC) dropped their second game of the season, losing at home to the Clemson Tigers (5-2-2, 3-0-1 ACC) by a score of 4-3 at Spry. For the Tigers, this win
took them to the top of the ACC standings, pending some games this weekend, and it also marked the first time Clemson has won at Wake since 2022. For the Deacs, they have now only won 1 of their last 5 games (1-2-2) and remain winless in the ACC as its reigning champion. It was a topsy-turvy, 6-goal first 45 minutes that gave way to an uneasy goalless balance through much of the second half, but a balance that was eventually broken.
It was a nervous start for the Deacs, as they had some difficulties playing out of the back against Clemson’s trademark press, but it was Wake that ended up first on the scoresheet. In the 13th minute Cooper Flax’s shot from outside the area deflected out of play for what was initially ruled as a corner, but, after a video review, it was determined that the ball had deflected off of the outstretched arm of Clemson center back Olafur Floki Stephensen just inside the 18 yard box, and a penalty was given. Cooper Flax was the one to step up and take the penalty as well, and he made no mistake, slotting his spot kick right down the middle for his 4th goal of the season and of his last 2 games. The Deacs’ lead didn’t hold long, however, as Clemson was able to win the second ball from a Wake throw in deep in the Deacs’ half, and, only a minute and 37 seconds after Wake took the lead, forward Nathan Richmond tied the score when his effort from the edge of the area took a bank off of Wake center back Daniel Kruger into the top corner.
It wasn’t long before Clemson found a second goal, as, in the 21st minute, they struck again. This time, the damage was done on a set piece, as MAC Hermann contender Ransford Gyan hit a high, inswinging ball to the back post, where defender Lukas Magnason was able to float his header into the top corner. The madness continued, though, and it was not long after Clemson took the lead that Wake responded, as, in the 25th minute, it was Tate Lorentz who evened the score. After an Amoni Thomas cross was half cleared by Olafur Floki Stephensen, Cooper Flax challenged for the ball, and, after a fight for possession, it popped out to forward Ethan Subachan. Subachan laid it off to Tate Lorentz at the top of the box, who struck the ball sweetly into the top corner to restore parity in the game. That parity would not hold for long either, though, as, only 5 minutes later, the deadlock was once again broken. The Tigers were able to win possession near midfield after no Wake player could latch onto the second ball from a long ball forward, and, after settling the ball, Kwaku Agyebang was able to spring winger Mihei Yoshizawa up the field. Near the top of the area, Yoshizawa played it inside to Ransford Gyan, who took a wonderful touch around center back Travis Smith Jr. and put a shot towards goal that found its way over keeper Jonah Mednard by way of a deflection off of fullback Amoni Thomas. The Clemson lead was once again restored, ending a breakneck 10 minutes with the Tigers on top.
The game settled into a bit of a lull, at least in comparison to the previous 10 minutes, after Gyan’s goal. Yoshizawa nearly added a 4th in the 33rd minute when Ransford Gyan was able to create a little space for himself in the Wake penalty area, scooping the ball across goal for Yoshizawa, who headed the ball way over the crossbar from just inside the six yard box. Despite Clemson’s pressure, the Deacs would respond once again in the 40th minute, as Cristian Escribano was able to win a free kick from the left flank. Cooper Flax was the one to whip the ball across, and his service prompted Clemson goalkeeper Joseph Andema to come out. The ball went well out of Andema’s reach, and Vlad Walent was able to stand it up at the back post for center back Daniel Kruger to nod in from close range for what proved to be the half’s final goal. Once the 45 minutes were up, the game stood at 3-3. While the Deacs were able to hang tough with this Clemson side and counterpunch after taking some hooks and uppercuts, Clemson certainly looked the more dangerous of the two sides, and, on the balance of the game, probably deserved to be ahead. Coach Bobby Muuss was certainly not too enthused with his side’s performance, as, in a halftime interview on the ESPNU broadcast, he lamented his team’s lack of energy and wryly added that he could “read a book between passes” when his team was in possession.
The second 45 minutes were not quite as open and frenetic as the first. Both sides wanted to have a bit more solidity defensively, and you could see that both teams made adjustments to that end, with Clemson dropping off a bit more instead of pressing with their usual aggressiveness and with Wake’s forwards tracking back much more to help their defensive counterparts. Although the game was a bit tighter after these adjustments, there were still some chances, and most of them fell to the visiting Tigers. In the 57th minute, Mihei Yoshizawa created some more havoc, winning the ball from Amoni Thomas in the penalty area after the latter cut out a cross, getting past him on the dribble, and then sending it across the six yard box. Ransford Gyan redirected it towards goal, but wide of the mark, and Nathan Richmond’s last ditch effort to put it on frame from the endline came off the outside of the post and went out for a goal kick. Ransford Gyan once again came close to adding to his tally with a chance in the 68th minute, as Nathan Richmond was able to find him just inside the area after a throw in. Gyan weaved through two defenders and struck the ball goalwards on his left foot, but he dragged the shot just wide for another goal kick. In the 72nd minute though, Clemson did finally break through. After intercepting a Cooper Flax pass near midfield, Clemson was able to go on the counter. The ball came to Ransford Gyan, on the left flank, who delivered a brilliant ball to Nathan Richmond near the top of the area, who was one on one with Travis Smith Jr. Richmond took the ball wide to set up a shot on his right foot, which went through Smith’s legs, off of the hand of Jonah Mednard, and into the back of the net to make it 4-3.
Despite a late push from the Deacs, this would be the game’s final goal. They almost had their equalizer from an unlikely source in Daniel Kruger, who found himself unmarked on a corner kick and volleyed an effort towards goal from just outside the six yard area, but the ball deflected off of Wake winger Vlad Walent in front of the net, denying Kruger’s brace. Some late long balls up the field came to nothing, and Wake ultimately fell by a 4-3 scoreline, losing their first home game of the season. There are a slew of players to pick from for player of the match in this game, with Cooper Flax registering a goal and two assists, Nathan Richmond scoring twice, including the game’s winning goal, and Misei Yoshizawa registering an assist being a nuisance all night for the Wake defense. For me, though, the best player on the field was the MAC Hermann candidate, Ransford Gyan. With a goal and two assists, it felt like Gyan was going to make a goal happen every time he touched the ball. It was a mammoth performance from him to secure a huge road win for a Clemson team that is looking to find their way back in the rankings.
For the Deacs, you start to wonder where they go from here. The questions early in the season surrounded their attack, as they scored 10 goals across their first 6 games, but they have exploded to life on that front, scoring 16 goals across their last 4 games. Meanwhile, a defense that looked to be the strength of the team through 6 games, surrendering 2 goals in that span and keeping 4 shutouts, is now in freefall, surrendering 13 goals in the 4 games since. Wake is still winless through their 3 ACC games (0-2-1), and they will have another tough test in their next game, as they will host the #6 Stanford Cardinal (8-1-1) at Spry on October 4th at 7:00 PM EDT. The game will be broadcast on ACCNX/ESPN+.
