SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Sophomore Cooper Hineline was the second-half hero with the lone goal of the defensive-battle to push the No. 18 Clemson Tigers to a 1-0 victory at Syracuse to open ACC action on Friday evening. The win improved the Tigers to 4-1 (1-0 ACC), while the Orange dropped to 3-2 (0-1 ACC).
The Tigers outshot the Orange, 19-6, with six shots on goal. Hineline’s goal was the fourth of his 2026 campaign and assisted by freshman Johannes Kack. Four other Tigers in Xander Sevian, Martin Bakken, Alessio Andreottola and Duncan Wilson finished the night with three shots that included one shot each on goal from Sevian, Andreottola and Wilson. In goal, graduate Aleksa Janjic finished with one save to earn his third win of the year and first clean sheet of the season and his Tiger career.
The Tigers and the Orange stayed knotted at 0-0 through the first 45’, with Clemson totaling 10 shots to Syracuse’s two after putting pressure on Syracuse’s defense holding possession for 60 percent of the half. Junior Lukas Magnason and Sevian gave Clemson its two best looks in the opening half. Magnason’s attempt fell just wide of the goal in the 19’, and Sevian’s was stuffed by Syracuse’s goalkeeper in the 26’.
After five attempts in the opening minutes of the second half, Hineline broke open the match with his goal in the 67’. Kack fielded a deflection off a Syracuse defender inside the six-yard box and made a quick dish to Hineline. Hineline used one touch from his left to right foot to get around the goalkeeper and punch the ball into the back of the net to make it 1-0.
Syracuse looked to respond in the 82’, but the shot was blocked by Clemson’s back line. The Orange saw two other free kick attempts be unsuccessful as the Tigers staved off the Orange for the ACC win.
Up Next
The Tigers are back at Historic Riggs Field for another ACC matchup on Friday, Sept. 11 against Notre Dame. The Tigers and the Fighting Irish are slated for a 7 p.m. kickoff on ACCNX.