SU women’s soccer held scoreless for 4th straight game in 2-0 Clemson loss
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Nicky Thrasher Adams was all smiles in the first few minutes of Syracuse women’s soccer’s game against Clemson Thursday night.
When ESPN’s camera found her during its broadcast, SU’s head coach wore black sunglasses and flashed a peace sign toward the lens with a chuckle.
Ninety minutes later, the sunglasses were no longer on. Sweat replaced the once composed look she held pregame as Syracuse (3-4-2, 0-2-0 Atlantic Coast) struggled to generate offense against Clemson (5-2-2, 1-1-0 ACC) in a 2-0 loss Thursday night. The Tigers outshot SU 21-5 and held a 9-2 advantage in corners, handing the Orange their third straight defeat.
Immediately, Clemson kept Syracuse pinned in its own half. The Tigers’ first shot on goal nearly gave them a lead in the eighth minute. Clemson midfielder Kendall Bodak received the ball at the top of the box from Anna Castenfelt after Bodak beat the press from Abby Incorvaia with a quick touch and found Natalie Brooks in front of Syracuse’s backline.
Brooks initiated a give-and-go with Carla Small, who took a booming right-footed kick from a spot better suited for a cross than a shot. Even so, the ball was inches away from finding the net, but after the faintest of touches from goalkeeper Maya Naimoli, it ricocheted off the post and away.
Eight minutes later, Small threatened again. Maddie Costello got the ball on the right wing and picked on Incorvaia some more. Costello treated Incorvaia like a receiver facing a defensive back at the line, selling a move to the right before cutting left and finding Small in a similar position to her last try. Small took a bouncing touch before sending another blast at Naimoli. The goalie got low and flashed her right leg at the ball, keeping it from finding the corner of her net.
Small had the early pressure from the left side, but Castenfelt was her partner in crime up the right.
In the 22nd minute, Castenfelt trapped a long ball down on the right wing and got to work. She spotted Jasmine Nixon in front of her and made quick work of her with an in-and-out move that gave her space to push the ball to the center edge of the box. With a sweep of her left, Castenfelt sent the ball just inches above the crossbar before losing her footing.
Up until the 53rd minute, Syracuse hadn’t recorded a shot. Its first opening came when Ali Howard met a Vickie Jones cross. The ball was a little behind Howard, and she could only swipe at it, but it was still SU’s best opportunity.
In the 67th minute, Clemson finally broke the ice with a chance that started on defense. Incorvaia was closed down in the right corner, just a few feet away from the flag. The Tigers repossessed the ball and cleared it away. Surely Syracuse got on the end of Clemson’s throwaway possession.
It might’ve looked like that until defender Bree Bridges couldn’t get a clean touch, and the ball bounced right into the feet of Clemson forward Alessandra Washington. For another moment, it seemed like the attack would end with her, swarmed by Nixon and Bridges at the edge of the box. Until she turned her hips, glanced up and spotted Taylor Leib making a late run. The midfielder took one touch and hammered an emphatic shot above Naimoli and just under the crossbar to take a 1-0 lead.
As much as Syracuse tried to materialize any offense after Clemson’s goal, it barely generated any concrete chances.
With three minutes remaining, the Orange had one last opportunity to tie things up. They’d remain winless all-time against Clemson in 12 matchups, but at least they’d walk away with a draw. Chloe Joseph, who’d seen just about every square inch of the right side of the pitch, beat her defender and sent a cross toward the doorstep of the 6-yard-box.
No SU player looked to be on the end of it until Gabby Wisbeck came out of nowhere, meeting the ball with a strong header. Goalie Nona Reason had hardly been tested all night, but she stayed composed, lunging to her right and saving the desperate, late effort.
Last season, Clemson used a late Castenfelt goal to hand Syracuse a 2-1 loss on Oct. 5, 2025. She converted a right-footed free kick, curling it into the bottom right corner in the final minute. Thursday, with Syracuse searching for an equalizer, she found herself in a familiar position late.
In the 88th minute, the Tigers turned defense into offense once more. Castenfelt had the ball and turned to her right. She curled a shot perfectly past the outstretched paw of Naimoli and, just like last year, tucked it into the side net.
SU’s dreams of a tie were shattered. The peace sign that opened Syracuse’s night became a 2-0 loss. Castenfelt had the last laugh for the second straight year; she just needed her right foot again.
