
No. 20 Wake Forest, No. 7 Syracuse Play To Hard Fought 1-1 Draw
9/16/2023 10:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer
After giving up an early goal, the Demon Deacons cranked up the intensity in front of a raucous crowd at Spry Stadium to earn the team’s first ACC point of the year.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- For the third time this season and second against a ranked foe, the No. 20 ranked Wake Forest men's soccer team (3-1-3, 0-1-1 ACC) recorded a draw as the Demon Deacons and No. 7 Syracuse (3-0-3, 0-0-2 ACC) tied 1-1 on Saturday night at Spry Stadium.
Despite conceding an early goal in the second minute, Wake Forest continued to fight throughout the night before leveling the match in the 75th minute after Sidney Paris was taken down in the box by Syracuse's Gabriel Mikina. Paris' ensuing penalty kick beat Orange goalkeeper Jason Smith for his second goal of the season.
In total, the Demon Deacons dominated the number of shots taken (16-5), shots on goal (4-1), corners (8-3) and possession (57-43 percent).
Through five matches at Spry this season, Wake Forest remains unbeaten at home with a 3-0-2 record. Additionally, the Demon Deacons are now 22-10-5 all-time against top-10 opponents under head coach Bobby Muuss.
Wake Forest will continue a two-week string of home matches, next hosting Liberty on Tuesday night for the team's Mental Health Awareness Game. The team will wear special green jerseys with proceeds supporting the Trinity Center. A Winston-Salem based organization, the Trinity Center is dedicated to meeting the needs of our community with the mission to improve lives by providing exceptional care with openness, hope and faith.
Bidding is open now for the jerseys and will conclude at midnight Tuesday.
Kick-off for the Wake Forest vs. Liberty match is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the contest will air on ACC Network Extra.
How It Happened
"It's a hard one to say that you're happy with the result, because I thought we had opportunities to win the game here tonight. We switched off right at the beginning of the game and they made us pay with a great finish. Their keeper made a couple of good saves and we hit the post. We were just a bit unlucky in the final third. I thought the guys played well. I thought it was our most complete performance of the year and something that we can definitely grow on, but I also think it gives us a gauge of where we're at as a football club right now. I think we have a good side. We needed a performance – not a result like this – a performance like this to try to gain confidence and I have to commend the work of Jake Swallen tonight. We pushed him and he was good for us. I think just his leadership, his presence and the excitement that the guys have when he's on the field is a great sign for us. There's also a reason Garrison Tubbs is on the Hermann Trophy Watch List because of his performance here tonight. He was fantastic."
Up Next
Wake Forest will host its third of four-straight home matches on Tuesday night when the Demon Deacons host Liberty in the seventh all-time meeting between the programs. The match will serve as the Deacs' Mental Health Awareness Game, as the team will wear special green jerseys with proceeds supporting the Trinity Center. Bidding is open now for the jerseys here.
Kick-off will be at 7 p.m. and the match will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
Despite conceding an early goal in the second minute, Wake Forest continued to fight throughout the night before leveling the match in the 75th minute after Sidney Paris was taken down in the box by Syracuse's Gabriel Mikina. Paris' ensuing penalty kick beat Orange goalkeeper Jason Smith for his second goal of the season.
In total, the Demon Deacons dominated the number of shots taken (16-5), shots on goal (4-1), corners (8-3) and possession (57-43 percent).
Through five matches at Spry this season, Wake Forest remains unbeaten at home with a 3-0-2 record. Additionally, the Demon Deacons are now 22-10-5 all-time against top-10 opponents under head coach Bobby Muuss.
Wake Forest will continue a two-week string of home matches, next hosting Liberty on Tuesday night for the team's Mental Health Awareness Game. The team will wear special green jerseys with proceeds supporting the Trinity Center. A Winston-Salem based organization, the Trinity Center is dedicated to meeting the needs of our community with the mission to improve lives by providing exceptional care with openness, hope and faith.
Bidding is open now for the jerseys and will conclude at midnight Tuesday.
Kick-off for the Wake Forest vs. Liberty match is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the contest will air on ACC Network Extra.
How It Happened
- After the Orange were assessed a first-minute yellow card, they took a 1-0 lead 80 seconds into the match.
- Colin Thomas recorded the first Wake Forest shot of the night in the ninth minute, taking a beautiful through ball from Roald Mitchell that just curved to the outside of the goal.
- After Cristian Escribano was taken down just outside of the 18, Liam O'Gara logged Wake Forest's second shot of the night in the 21st but his direct attempt was off target.
- The Deacs had a goal called back in the 24th minute, as a Jahlane Forbes' in-swinging free kick eventually found its way to Prince Amponsah's foot but his goal was whistled off.
- Jake Swallen rocketed a shot at the top of the 18 in the 43rd minute off a quick free kick, but it was stopped by Syracuse keeper Jason Smith.
- Swallen continues his push for his second goal in as many games in the 51st minute, but a free kick curved just to the outside of the goal.
- Jeffrey White logged Wake Forest's seventh shot of the night just two minutes later, but it skied the Orange's goal.
- Wake Forest logged back-to-back shots in the 67th minute, as an attempt by Hosei Kijima was blocked before the rebounding shot from Cooper Flax went high.
- Kijima connected with Flax through the middle of the Syracuse defense for a 72nd-minute shot that was saved.
- In the 75th minute, Sidney Paris – who entered the match two minutes prior – forced himself deep into Syracuse territory before Gabriel Mikina took him down in the box for a yellow card and a penalty kick. Paris would then bury his attempt for his second goal of the season and the sixth of his career.
- Wake Forest recorded five more shot attempts after Paris' goal to Syracuse's zero before the final whistle blew and each time earned a point in the ACC standings.
- Cristian Escribano earned his 35th career start.
- Cooper Flax earned his 15th career start.
- Leo Guarino made his 40th career appearance.
- With the outcome, Wake Forest is now 5-3-3 all-time against Syracuse. Additionally, the Deacs remain unbeaten against the Orange at home with a record of 5-0-2 for matches played in Winston-Salem.
"It's a hard one to say that you're happy with the result, because I thought we had opportunities to win the game here tonight. We switched off right at the beginning of the game and they made us pay with a great finish. Their keeper made a couple of good saves and we hit the post. We were just a bit unlucky in the final third. I thought the guys played well. I thought it was our most complete performance of the year and something that we can definitely grow on, but I also think it gives us a gauge of where we're at as a football club right now. I think we have a good side. We needed a performance – not a result like this – a performance like this to try to gain confidence and I have to commend the work of Jake Swallen tonight. We pushed him and he was good for us. I think just his leadership, his presence and the excitement that the guys have when he's on the field is a great sign for us. There's also a reason Garrison Tubbs is on the Hermann Trophy Watch List because of his performance here tonight. He was fantastic."
Up Next
Wake Forest will host its third of four-straight home matches on Tuesday night when the Demon Deacons host Liberty in the seventh all-time meeting between the programs. The match will serve as the Deacs' Mental Health Awareness Game, as the team will wear special green jerseys with proceeds supporting the Trinity Center. Bidding is open now for the jerseys here.
Kick-off will be at 7 p.m. and the match will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
Team Stats
SYR
WFU
Goals
1
1
Shots
5
16
Shots on Goal
1
4
Saves
3
0
Corners
3
8
Fouls
23
10
Scoring Plays

Nicholas Kaloukian (1)
Assisted By: Noah Singelmann
GOAL by SYR Kaloukian, Nicholas Assist by Singelmann, Noah.
01:20

Sidney Paris (1)
WFU Sidney Paris PENALTY KICK GOAL.
74:27
Game Leaders
Players
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