Wake Forest University
Clemson University
No. 1 Wake Forest Faces Top-10 Showdown Against Clemson
9/23/2022 9:51:00 AM | Men's Soccer
The latest chapter in a longstanding series between the Deacs and Tigers will take place Saturday night.
CLEMSON, S.C. – The No. 1 ranked Wake Forest men's soccer team will face off with the No. 10 ranked Clemson Tigers on Saturday night at Historic Riggs Field in each program's third ACC regular season match.
Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the match will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
The Matchup
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Wake Forest and Clemson are two of five ACC teams ranked in the top-10 of the latest United Soccer Coaches poll, with the Demon Deacons coming in at No. 1 while the Tigers are No. 10.
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Wake Forest will enter Riggs with an 8-0-0 overall record and a 2-0-0 mark in ACC play while Clemson is 7-1-0 overall and 1-1-0 in conference action.
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Both Wake Forest (+17, T-2nd) and Clemson (+14, T-8th) rank in the top-10 nationally in goal differential as both sides have conceded just five goals through eight matches.
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The Demon Deacons are one of two programs remaining in the country that are both unbeaten and untied, joined by Charlotte.
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Clemson won the 2021 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship and spent the first four weeks of this season as the unanimous No. 1 ranked team in the country.
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Saturday's matchup will mark the 53rd all-time meeting between the two ACC squads and the 23rd time at Clemson. Wake Forest holds a 24-20-8 advantage in the competitive series with eight of those victories coming on the road.
Last Time Out
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Shortly after being unveiled as the latest No. 1 ranked team in the country, Wake Forest on Tuesday downed George Mason 6-1 at Spry Stadium for the team's 13th-straight home victory and 89th home victory since the beginning of the 2015 season.
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Six different Demon Deacons scored on the night including juniors Garrison Tubbs, Jahlane Forbes and Chase Oliver earning their first goals of the campaign as Wake Forest outshot George Mason 21-1.
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Freshman Samuel Jones made his first collegiate start, playing 72 minutes, while sophomore Babacar Niang earned his first start of the season.
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With eight corner kicks against the Patriots, Wake Forest ranks third nationally in corner kicks per game at 8.38.
Scouting The Tigers
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Clemson – like Wake Forest – is one of just three programs nationally to win more than 100 matches since the start of the 2015 season.
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The Tigers rank top-10 nationally in goal differential (+14, T-8th), assists per game (2.88), shutout percentage (.625, T-9th) and shots on goal per game (8.12, 10th)
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This year, the Tigers have been led by Ousmane Sylla in points (13), goals (five) and game-winning goals (two) as Clemson is 6-0-0 when he's been in the lineup. Mohamed Seye, meanwhile, leads the Tigers with six assists.
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Trevor Manion and Joseph Andema have each started and completed four matches in goal. Andema has collected 11 saves while having yet to allow a goal.
Looking Ahead
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Wake Forest will return to Spry Stadium next Saturday for another top-10 ACC opponent, going against current No. 7 Duke.
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Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the match will air on ACC Network Extra.
