12th-seeded Syracuse Men’s Soccer falls 2-1 to 5th-seeded Wake Forest in ACC Tournament opener

Tonight, 12th-seeded Syracuse Men’s Soccer walked into Spry Stadium with its season hanging in the balance. In a match with 5th-seeded Wake Forest, it was a spot the Orange needed for their NCAA Tournament hopes. The ‘Cuse took a 1-nil lead into the halftime break, but the Deamon Deacons finally broke through in the second half, putting two in the back of the net and that was all Wake Forest needed for a 2-1 victory to send the Deacs into the ACC Tournament quarterfinals. After the game, Wake Forest head coach Bobby Muuss said it wasn’t easy for the Deacs against the Orange. 

Syracuse, they’re so hard to play against, right? With the man-oriented defending, where it’s, you know you’re in for it, and it takes a lot, right? But if you can get your guy turned, and you make some good decisions, you can have some

success, but it’s just so hard to do, because they’re athletic, they’re disciplined, and they fight, and they fought to the very end. 

The loss marks the first time Syracuse has failed to make the ACC quarterfinals since 2021. While the Orange’s season likely ends here tonight, they can hold its final breath until November 18th, when the NCAA announces its Field of 48. Reporting from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Adam Hipsky, CitrusTV.