'Cuse Tops Clemson, 1-0

Saturday, September 20

Clemson, SC

5 p.m.

Syracuse University

6-1-0, 1-1-0ACC

Clemson

4-4-0, 1-1-0ACC

Syracuse

Clemson

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

9/20/2014 6:53:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Orange gets first ACC win of the season

Score By Period	1st	2nd	Final
Syracuse	1	0	1
Clemson	0	0	0
Box Score Sept. 20, 2014 \| Riggs Field / Clemson, S.C. \| Attendance: 1,528

CLEMSON, S.C. -- No. 23 Syracuse (6-1-0, 1-1-0 ACC) picked up its first Atlantic Coast Conference win of the season with a 1-0 shutout of Clemson (4-4-0, 1-1-0 ACC) Saturday, Sept. 20 at Riggs Field.

Emil Ekblom scored the only goal of the match in the 14th minute after receiving a long pass from Jordan Murrell. Ekblom settled the ball in the box and slid a shot just inside the post for his third game-winning goal of the season.

"Emil's finish was the difference in the game," said SU head coach Ian McIntyre. "Winning games on the road in the ACC is never easy and to be able to come down here and get three points on a hot day like we did, it really puts us in a good position moving forward. We were really able to keep the quality of their chances limited and obviously having a presence like Alex Bono at the back to mop everything up, he did what was needed. This is a very talented and well-coached Clemson team. I'm sure this isn't the last we'll be hearing of them."

Bono had six saves in the match, including two in the final five minutes of play. He denied a chance by Bobby Belair in the 87th minute and turned aside an Iman Mafi shot in the 89th minute to preserve his sixth shutout of the year and the 24th of his career. Bono has only allowed one goal in 2014. The only goalie in the nation to enter this weekend allowing fewer goals than Bono is Penn State's Andrew Wolverton (0).

Mafi, a sophomore midfielder, led the Tigers' offense. In 69 minutes of play, Mafi had two shots on goal and created multiple chances with his set pieces. Andrew Tarbell played all 90 minutes in goal for Clemson. He did not make a save as the Orange's only shot on frame was Ekblom's deciding goal.

The Tigers held a 9-5 advantage in shots for the game. Both teams recorded six corner kicks.

Syracuse looks to continue its impressive start when heads to Vestal, N.Y. on Tuesday, Sept. 23 to face Binghamton. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at the Bearcats Sports Complex.

Match Notes: Ekblom's goal was his team-leading fourth tally of the season ... Murrell's assist was the 16th of his career, tying him with John Andrade (1998-2001) for ninth on the SU all-time list ... Bono's six shutouts lead the ACC ... The 2014 campaign marks the second time in the last three years the Orange has started 6-1. SU also began the 2012 season with six wins in its first seven contests.