The University of Louisville men’s soccer team is gearing up for a crucial ACC Championship semifinal match against Clemson on Wednesday. The Cardinals are seeking their third appearance in the ACC Championship final, with their previous appearances coming in 2014 and 2018. This semifinal match will be televised on the ACC Network.
In their quarterfinal round, Louisville delivered an impressive performance, defeating second-ranked and top-seeded Notre Dame 4-3. Junior midfielder Sander Roed had a breakthrough game, scoring a hat trick with three goals and assisting on Joshua Jones’ game-winning goal in the 89th minute.
Roed’s hat trick was the first by a Louisville player since 2017 and only the second in ACC Championship history. His seven-point performance on the night set a new ACC Championship record. This outstanding performance highlights Roed’s exceptional skills on the field.
Jones, another standout player for Louisville, has been instrumental on set pieces. His game-winning goal against Notre Dame was his second goal of the season, and his seventh goal in total, with all seven goals assisted by Roed.
Louisville has shown their offensive firepower throughout the season, scoring an average of over two goals per match. They have been particularly effective in the early stages of matches, scoring the opening goal in 13 out of 18 matches this season.
Roed has also been making strides on the career assists chart, tallying his seventh assist of the season and 20th of his career in the quarterfinals. He is now tied for fifth all-time in assists at Louisville, with the program’s career record being 26 assists by Tim Kubel.
The upcoming semifinal match against Clemson holds significant importance for Louisville. They will be looking to avenge their previous loss to Clemson and secure a spot in the ACC Championship final. The winner of this match will face either Syracuse or North Carolina in the title match on Sunday in Cary, N.C.
Fans can stay updated on Louisville men’s soccer by following them on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @LouisvilleMSOC.
