No. 7 Syracuse Men’s Soccer Draws Wake Forest in First ACC Road Game

By: Adam Gotkin | @adam_gotkin

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – In a highly anticipated match, No. 7 Syracuse and No. 20 Wake Forest battled to a thrilling 1-1 draw on a Saturday evening at Spry Stadium. The game showcased the resilience of both teams as they fought for dominance throughout the match.

The action started just 80 seconds into the game when Syracuse’s sophomore Nicholas Kaloukian found the back of the net, giving the Orange an early 1-0 lead. Graduate student Noah Singelmann set up the play, delivering a precise pass to Kaloukian, who used his right foot to send the ball into the left goal post, marking his first goal of the 2023 season.

Despite the early setback, Wake Forest demonstrated their determination, outshooting Syracuse 16-5 and dominating in corners with an 8-3 advantage. The Demon Deacons, known for their attacking prowess, were relentless in their pursuit of an equalizer.

Wake Forest came close to leveling the match in the 23rd minute, with an attempt off a free kick, but they were called for offsides, leaving the fans on the edge of their seats. The breakthrough finally came in the 75th minute when Sidney Paris drew a foul in the Syracuse box, earning the Demon Deacons a crucial penalty kick.

Paris, displaying nerves of steel, calmly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner, leaving Orange goalkeeper Jason Smith with no chance. This goal marked Paris’ second successful penalty kick of the 2023 season and brought the game level at 1-1.

Syracuse goalkeeper Jason Smith also stood out with his excellent performance, making three saves in back-to-back matches, keeping Syracuse in contention throughout the game.

As Syracuse looks to regroup and prepare for their next challenge, they return to Central New York for their sole non-conference road contest of the campaign. On Tuesday, September 19, at 7 p.m. the Orange take on Cornell.