SMU men’s Soccer Dominates Syracuse, Advances to First ACC Championship Final
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SMU’s men’s soccer team secured a resounding 5-1 victory over Syracuse in the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship semifinals on Thursday, propelling them to their inaugural ACC Championship final appearance. The No. 25 ranked Mustangs showcased a dominant offensive performance, fueled by goals from five different players and a standout evening from Ryan Clanton-Pimentel.
Mustangs overpower Syracuse in Championship Semifinal
The match,held at First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary,N.C., saw SMU overcome a slow start to overwhelm their opponents. Despite seeing less of the ball in the initial stages, the Mustangs created early chances, registering three shots to Syracuse’s two within the first 25 minutes.
The breakthrough came in the 38th minute when Lucky Emmanuel blasted a shot into the net following a precise pass from Jaylinn Mitchell. Just before halftime, in the 45th minute, Mitchell again proved pivotal, delivering a cross that Clanton-pimentel converted for his first goal as a Mustang.
“The team really found its rhythm after that first goal,” a senior official stated. “It gave us the confidence to push forward and dictate the play.”
Second-Half Surge Seals Victory
SMU continued its offensive onslaught after the break. Charles-Emile brunet extended the lead in the 50th minute, capitalizing on a corner kick delivered by Stephan Soghomonian and headed down by Slade Starnes. Soghomonian then added a goal of his own in the 60th minute, a stunning one-time volley assisted by Clanton-Pimentel – his 12th goal of the season.
the Mustangs weren’t finished.Landon Hickam, coming off the bench, scored in the 83rd minute, again with an assist from the impressive Clanton-Pimentel. While Syracuse managed a consolation goal from a penalty kick in the 85th minute,SMU comfortably held on to secure the 5-1 victory.
Clanton-Pimentel shines, Team Achieves Firsts
Ryan Clanton-Pimentel was the standout performer of the evening, not only scoring his first career goal for SMU but also contributing with two assists. The Mustangs’ victory was a team effort, however, with all five goals scored by different players.
Several other milestones were reached during the match. Alex Salvo and Slade Starnes each recorded their first assists of the season. Stephan Soghomonian continued his impressive form, scoring for the third consecutive match.
Here are some key takeaways from the match:
- SMU is making its first appearance in the ACC Championship final.
- The Mustangs’ record against Syracuse now stands at 1-1.
- All five of SMU’s goals were scored by different players, highlighting the team’s diverse attacking threat.
- Stephan Soghomonian has now scored 12 goals this season.
- Ryan Clanton-Pimentel had a breakout performance with one goal and two assists.
Championship Clash Awaits
SMU will now face No. 4 Virginia in the ACC Championship final on Sunday at 12 pm CT in Cary, N.C.The two teams previously met on Oct. 31, with Virginia securing a narrow 1-0 victory. The Mustangs will be looking to avenge that loss and claim their first ACC Championship title.
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