CLEMSON SOCCER

Men's Soccer Defeats Top-Seeded Wake Forest In NCAAs


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WINSTON-SALEM, NC-Brett Branan scored both goals in leading Clemson to a 2-1 upset win over top-seeded and number-one ranked Wake Forest in the third round of the NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament at Winston-Salem, NC

Saturday night.

Branan scored the winning goal at the 99:28 mark (:32 seconds remaining in

the first overtime period). Kenneth Cutler played a left-sided corner

kick to the right post. Branan headed the ball in the goal from nine

yards out and into the upper right corner of the goal. Branan has now

scored four goals this season.

With the win, Clemson is now 14-4-3 on the year. Wake Forest falls to

15-2-4 this season. Clemson now advances to the NCAA Tournament's final

eight. Clemson has been to 11 NCAA Final eights in school history, three

in the last five years. Head Coach Trevor Adair has led Clemson to four Final Eights since he arrived in Clemson in 1995.

Wake Forest is ranked number one by soccertimes.com and the NSCAA. Soccer

America ranks Wake Forest at number two. Clemson is ranked 14th by

Soccer America and 13th by the NSCAA. Clemson is ranked 14th by

soccertimes.com.

Clemson took a 1-0 lead with 5:07 gone in the match. Branan took a loose ball and fired a shot in the net from 10 yards out.

Wake Forest evened the score with only :24 seconds remaining in the first

half. Brian Carrroll sent a ball from the outside the left corner of the

box. Amir Lowery scored his third goal as he headed the ball in from

eight yards out.

"Wake Forest is a great team," said Clemson Head Coach Trevor Adair. "I want to congratulate them on a fine season . I told our guys that we needed someone to step up and Branan did just that tonight, that is what

it takes. I am very proud of our players. I feel it was two great teams

on the field battling their hearts out and both teams did a great job, I am glad it was us who came out on top. They had more possession tonight, but we fought hard and with a little luck and chemistry we were able to come away with the win.

"We have been in a lot of overtime games this season. Our fitness level

is good. We worked on the corner kick pieces yesterday. The winning goal

wasn't exactly like we drew it up, but we will take it. We feel we are a

top 10 program, and we need to go to the final four. We have fallen short

in the past This year we have another chance to win the national

championship, and we try to set this as a goal each year. For us to find

a way to win on the road against a number-one ranked team, this team feels we can beat anybody."

Clemson-Brett Branan (Unassisted) 5:07

Wake Forest-Amir Lowery (Brian Carroll) 44:36

Clemson-Brett Branan (Kenneth Cutler) 99:28


Shots: Clemson 8, Wake Forest 16

Corner Kicks: Clemson 4, Wake Forest 9

Saves: Doug Warren (CU) 6 William Hesmer (WF) 2

Fouls: Clemson 23, Wake Forest 17

Attendance: 3,279

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