Meinhard’s Hat Trick Leads No. 3 Clemson to Win Over Syracuse

Clemson, S.C. – Alex Meinhard recorded Clemson’s first hat trick of the season and No. 3 Clemson men’s soccer downed Syracuse, 6-1, on Friday night at Historic Riggs Field. The win moves Clemson to 10-2-2 on the year, 5-2-0 in ACC play, while the loss drops Syracuse to 6-6-3, 1-4-2 in ACC play. Friday’s six goals mark the second-straight game with six goals for Clemson.

Meinhard got the scoring started early, giving Clemson a 1-0 lead just 1:48 into play. Meinhard gathered the pass from Joran Gerbet at midfield and sprinted past all the Syracuse defenders and sent the ball just beyond the outstretched hand of the Orange keeper.

In the 15’, Syracuse was given a red card, leaving the Orange with just 10 men on the field for the remainder of the contest. Later, in the 25’, Remi Okunlola played a perfect ball to Wahabu Musah who scored his second goal in as many games this week at Historic Riggs Field. Meinhard then became the second Tiger to record a brace this season, scoring following a corner kick in the 30’. Just three minutes later, Meinhard recorded his first hat trick as a Tiger, scoring off of Gerbet’s second assist of the night. Following a foul in the box, Syracuse got on the board with a penalty kick goal in the 36’ to make the halftime score 4-1 in favor of the Tigers.

Tyler Trimnal pushed the Clemson lead back to four in the 48’, netting a header goal off of a Misei Yoshizawa corner kick. In the 63’, Antonio Illuminato gave Clemson its sixth goal in back-to-back games after Arthur Duquenne out-ran all of the Syracuse defense to create the scoring chance.

Up next, the Tigers return to Historic Riggs Field on Tuesday, October 29, hosting Wofford at 7:00 pm for Senior Day.