In one of the most exciting games ever at Historic Riggs Field on Wednesday, Clemson took down Syracuse 4-3 in penalty kicks after ending regulation tied at two.

With the victory, the Tigers advance to the second round of the ACC tournament.

In what was a tightly fought match, it was Syracuse who got on the board first. At 59:56, Tajon Buchanan put the Orange up 1-0. After good ball movement down the pitch, Buchanan was left with a wide open look inside the box.

The scoring didn’t stop there, as the Tigers (11-4-1) equalize off of a Saul Chinchilla goal at 69:19. After Tanner Dietrich delivered a ball down the right side to Oliver Shannon, Ollie sent in a low cross that found the right foot of Chinchilla point blank.

After a long half of bitter work and tough play, Clemson took its first lead. At 85:04, Oliver Shannon took a shot inside the box that hit off the keeper and went high up in the air. That set up an easy shot and finish for a 2-1 lead.

“Ollie definitely influenced the game by setting up both goals,” said Clemson head coach Mike Noonan. “He’s a competitive warrior, that’s the best way to describe him. When we’re down he’s better, when we need someone to step up Ollie’s been there.”

At 88:01, the Tigers conceded a goal on a very close call that had to be brought to review. After review and a near fight between opposing teams the goal was confirmed. It was scored by Syracuse’s Johannes Pieles.

Noonan was pleased with the way his team was able to attack, but what have liked the score to show it.

“We had a lot of really good chances again like we did against Louisville and like we have in most of our games” said the coach. “The final pass or final shot just has to be a little more clinical.”

After two overtime periods, the game ended up in penalty kicks. The Tigers’ Harrison Kurtz put Clemson ahead 4-3 in PKs and then it all came down to Michael Zierhoffer in the net who replaced starting keeper Ximo Miralles for the PKs.

Zierhoffer had made one save earlier, and in the final moments Pieles hit the left post to end the game and seal the Tigers’ victory.

“Like most of the guys I’m really proud, but what happens is you become very happy for someone” said Noonan. “He’s a guy who has worked every day in practice, worked for three years, sat behind professional goal keepers and has stayed just focused and ready to help the team.

“The fact that he was able to do that tonight makes me really, really happy and I know for a fact that it makes our team happy.”

Clemson advances to play at Duke in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament at 1 p.m. on Sunday.