Syracuse wins its first ACC tournament game in its first appearance

Story by Thomas Zhou
Photos by Jiayang Zhang

Syracuse, N.Y-

Asked before the game which opponent between Duke and NC State did he prefer, Syracuse men’s soccer team midfielder Julian Buescher’s answer was Duke. It was not because Duke was easy to take on. It was because the German freshman knew “Syracuse vs Duke” is a heated topic.


It truly is. 2,553 people came to see the Orange take on the Blue Devils on Sunday afternoon, the largest crowd in the SU Soccer Stadium ever.

What the crowd witnessed was sophomore Alex Halis and senior co-captain Nick Perea’s goals helping Syracuse beat Duke, 2-0, in the first ACC tournament game for the Orange.. 

“I don’t think that hill has ever looked that bad after a game,” Orange goalie Alex Bono joked about the hill occupied by students cheering the team. 

Entering the game, the Orange was the No.1 team in the country while the Blue Devils had won only one of their six games on the road. However, it was Duke fired first.

Brody Huitema, Duke’s leading scorer, headed a cross but it hit the bar only 25 seconds after the opening whistle. It was so sudden that Bono hardly reacted. Huitema took a grazing shot two minutes later from outside the box. While on target this time, Bono saved it.

Syracuse fired back and converted two of its 10 shots in the first half.

In the 10th minute, Buescher set a cross from the right side to help Halis find the back of the net. Halis ran to the hill and celebrated the team’s first goal of post season with the crowd. While Halis had played in 17 of 18 games, it was only the second time he started.

“It was just sheer brilliance from my heart to pick a guy that was going to score ten minutes into the game,” head coach Ian McIntyre said. “Alex Halis has a great week in practice. He played well last week. He was rewarded. He rewarded us with that early goal.”

The crowd waited 22 minutes to cheer for the second goal.

Midfielder Liam Callahan redirected a left-side cross in the box from Oyvind Alseth. Perea beat Blue Devils goalie Wilson Fisher with a header. 

Not only did Perea contribute with that goal, he and other midfielders shut down Blue Devil Sean Davis, whose 10 assists were the most in the ACC. McIntyre praised Perea for stopping Davis’ forward passes. 

“He is our captain,” McIntyre said. “He played against one of the best players in the conference, Sean Davis. I think he is outstanding.”

The Orange had many chances to extend the lead in the second half, especially in transition. 

In the 55th minute, leading striker Emil Ekblom’s left-foot shot went wide of the near post. Twenty minutes later, Ekblom took a pass from Christ Nanco and shot in the box. Fisher saved it, one of his four saves in the period.  

A scoreless second half, however, was enough for the Orange to take the win.

Less than 20 seconds before the end of the games. Fans on the stands stood up and cheered till the ending whistle. Orange players hugged each other and thanked the fans after the game. 

“It was a terrific day for our program,” McIntyre said. “I am very proud of our guys.”


The Orange will travel to North Carolina to take on Louisville on Nov. 14. Louisville is one of the only two teams that beat the Orange this season, a 2-1 overtime game at Louisville on Oct 17. 

“I’d love to get back after them,” Bono said. “Some revenge.”