Despite playing the last 29 minutes with 10 men, No. 5 Clemson held on for a 2-1 victory over defending champion Maryland and hand the No. 4 Terrapins their first loss of the season before 6,821 fans, the second largest crowd in Riggs Field history.
Brazilian Frederico Moojen showed why he is one of college soccer's most dangerous forwards when he put the Tigers ahead in the second minute. Jamaica international Dane Richards gave the Maryland defense fits and set up Danny Poe for the winning goal in the 73rd minute. Freshman Jeremy Hall scored for the Terrapins in the 41st minute. Phil Marfuggi stopped five shots for Clemson, which improves to 5-0-0
Clemson scored 12 minutes after Irishman Alan O'Hara was sent off.
''It was a great atmosphere,'' head coach Sasho Cirovski said. ''I give Clemson a lot of credit for their resiliency. It was a festive crowd and it showed that college soccer can be a major spectator sport.''
In another battle of unbeaten and untied ACC team, No. 6 Duke beat No. 7 Wake Forest, 4-3, before a record crowd of 4,323 at Wake's Spry Stadium. Sophomore Mike Grella scored a pair of second half goals as the Blue Devils overcame a 2-1 halftime deficit. Juniors Spencer Wadsworth and Michael Videira also netted goals, transfer and Joe Germanese added a pair of assists.
Wake Forest had pulled ahead, 3-2, in the 78th minute on Ryan Solle's penalty kick. Marcus Tracy and Zack Schilawski also scored for he Demon Deacons.
''This was a classic ACC battle,'' said head coach John Rennie. ''Our guys showed a lot of character in coming back to tie the game and then win it in regulation and Mike [Grella] scored two brilliant goals to help make it happen.''
Virginia Tech's 2-1 overtime loss to Boston College in ACC action at the Eagles' Newton Campus Field left only three unbeaten teams in the ACC. Clemson and Duke are 5-0-0; Virginia, which faces N.C. State, Saturday is 4-0-0. When the week began, seven ACC teams were unbeaten and untied.