Orange Upsets #19 Clemson, 1-0

Friday, November 1

SU Soccer Stadium

7 p.m.

Syracuse University

10-6-1, 3-6-1ACC

Clemson

10-5-2, 5-3-2ACC

Clemson

Syracuse

Alex Halis scored the game's only goal to keep SU's hopes for a postseason berth alive.

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

11/1/2013 10:12:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Score By Period	1st	2nd	Final
Clemson	0	0	0
Syracuse	0	1	1
Box Score Nov. 1, 2013 \| SU Soccer Stadium / Syracuse, N.Y. \| Attendance: 1,007

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Alex Halis scored the game-winning goal in the 61st minute to lead the Syracuse men's soccer team (10-6-1, 3-6-1 ACC) to a 1-0 victory against No. 19 Clemson (10-5-2, 5-3-2 ACC) on Friday, Nov. 1 at the SU Soccer Stadium. The victory keeps the Orange in contention for an ACC Tournament berth. SU is now tied for seventh in the league standings with 10 points. The top eight teams qualify for the conference tournament.

"It has to be the most important win of the season," said SU head coach Ian McIntyre. "We've needed to win one of these games to pick up some points. It was a great win against a very good team. We really had to fight tonight and I'm very proud of our guys."

The Orange and Tigers played to a scoreless first half. Orange goalie Alex Bono made three saves in the period to keep Clemson off of the scoreboard.

In the second half, Syracuse rewarded Bono by tallying the game's only goal. Chris Nanco started the play, eluding several Clemson defenders on his way into the box. Nanco's shot was deflected, and Halis gathered it, faked right and scored with his left foot at the 60:34 mark.

Bono finished the match with six saves. He was aided by a backline that performed brilliantly in the team's home finale. Skylar Thomas led the unit, deflecting several crosses and denying multiple Clemson attackers inside the box.

Clemson goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell recorded two saves. The Tigers outshot the Orange, 12-5, and tallied six corner kicks to SU's one.

SU looks to clinch its spot in the postseason when it travels to No. 12 Wake Forest for its final regular-season match Friday, Nov. 8. The Orange and Demon Deacons kick off at 7 p.m. at Spry Stadium.

Match Notes: The win is the Orange's 10th of the season, marking the first time SU has notched at least 10 victories in back-to-back years since 1995 and 1996. The Orange posted 14 wins last season … Halis' goal was his sixth of the year and his team-leading fourth game-winner … The victory against the Tigers represents SU's first win against a ranked conference foe since toppling No. 21 Louisville five years ago, 3-2 … Bono is now tied with Chris Whitcomb for third on the SU career record list with 18 shutouts.