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Landon Hickam
4
Wake Forest WFU (7-4-6, 2-3-3)
5
Winner SMU SMU (8-4-4, 3-2-3)
Wake Forest WFU
(7-4-6, 2-3-3)
4
Final
5
SMU SMU
(8-4-4, 3-2-3)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Wake Forest WFU 2 2 4
SMU SMU 1 4 5

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Hickam Late Winner, SMU Bests Wake Forest In ACC Championship First Round Thriller

Box Score | Postgame Press Conference | Tournament Page
 
DALLAS (SMU) — SMU Men's Soccer defeated Wake Forest 5-4 in its Atlantic Coast Conference first-round match at Washburne Stadium on Wednesday Night.
 
In a back-and-forth match that saw two goals in the first five minutes and three in the final five minutes, Wake Forest led the first half 2-1 before SMU came back with four goals in the second half to advance to the quarterfinal round of the ACC Championship.
 
Among the nine goals scored, freshman Landon Hickam's goal in the final minute was the one to punch the Mustangs' ticket to the next round.

Each of the Mustangs' five goals was scored by different players--Stephan Soghomonian opened the scoring for the Mustangs, followed by Enzo Panozzo, Milton Lopez, Slade Starnes and Hickam.

Charles-Emile Brunet assisted three of the Mustangs' goals. Making him the first Mustang to have three or more assists in a single match since Gabriel Costa (4) against Temple in 2021.
 
Hickam, Starnes and Panozzo scored their first goals of the season. Hickam and Starnes scored their first goals for SMU.
 
The Mustangs were dominant on the stats sheet, controlling 62 percent of the possession and outshooting the Demon Deacons 21 to 10. They matched their season-high in shots on goal with nine.
 
SMU has advanced to the quarterfinal round of the ACC Championship in its first two seasons as a member of the conference.
 
How It Happened
In a start that saw end-to-end action, Wake Forest opened the scoring in the fourth minute, and SMU responded within one minute with a goal in the fifth minute.
 
Both goals came from a throw-in that bounced around the penalty box and was rebounded with a shot from the top of the box. Stephan Soghomonian was the goal scorer for SMU with his 10th goal of the season.
 
Wake Forest took back the lead in the 15th minute from a direct free kick from outside the penalty box.
 
The Mustangs had the slight edge for the remainder of the first half, but the scoreline remained 2-1 after 45 minutes.
 
SMU stayed on the front foot at the start of the second half.
 
Enzo Panozzo tied the scoreline for the Mustangs with a goal in the 63rd minute, his first goal of the season. Charles-Emile Brunet swung a cross from a free kick spotted on the right wing, and Panozzo towered over the defense to head the ball into the net.
 
Slade Starnes took the lead for SMU in the 69th minute with another header that was also assisted by Brunet from the right wing.
 
SMU extended its lead in the 72nd minute of the match as Milton Lopez pounced on a loose parried ball inside the six-yard box.
 
Wake Forest forced its way back into the game and grabbed a spell of possession as the game entered the 80th-minute mark.
 
The visitors scored two quick goals in the 86th and 88th minutes to tie the game in the final stretch.
 
Freshman Landon Hickam scored the match-winner in the final minute of the match with a low volley to meet Panozzo's long-throw feed.
 
The scoreline stood 5-4 for SMU at the final whistle, and the hosts advanced to the quarterfinal round of the ACC Championship.
 
Other Notes
  • SMU remains undefeated against Wake Forest with a 2-0-1 record.
  • This is the most goals SMU has scored in a single match since they beat Central Arkansas 5-0 on Aug. 28, 2023.
  • This is the most total goals scored in a single match that includes SMU since the Mustangs beat FIU 6-4 on Sep. 23, 2022.
  • The last time SMU had five players score a goal in a single match was against UTRGV (7-2) on September 5, 2022.
  • Stephan Soghomonian increased his goal tally to 10 goals this season.
  • Enzo Panozzo scored his first goal of the season. The goal is his second career goal--his first career goal was also against Wake Forest last season.
  • Charles-Emile Brunet became the first Mustang to make three or more assists in a single match since Gabriel Costa (4) against Temple in 2021.
  • Hickam, Slade Starnes and Enzo Panozzo scored their first goals of the season. Hickam and Starnes scored their first goals for SMU.
  • SMU has advanced to the quarterfinal round of the ACC Championship in its first two seasons as a member of the conference.
What's Next?
SMU will head to the No. 2-seeded Stanford for its ACC Championship quarterfinal match at 7 pm CT on Sunday.
 
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