Tag: Clemson Soccer

Clemson men’s soccer earns NCAA Tournament national seed

Clemson earns a national seed.

CLEMSON, S.C. – Following the program’s fifth ACC Tournament Championship appearance in six seasons, Clemson men’s soccer earned the No. 9 national seed and a first-round bye in the top left quad of the NCAA Tournament bracket, as announced during the selection show on Monday.

The Tigers will face the winner of Thursday’s Providence/Bucknell matchup on Sunday at Historic Riggs Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Tickets for Sunday’s match will be $8 for adults, $5 for children under the age of 12 and children under the age of two get in for free. Fans can purchase tickets here.

This marks the 10th time in 11 seasons the Tigers have earned a national seed and a first-round bye. It also marks the ninth time in 11 seasons the Tigers will open the NCAA Tournament at Historic Riggs Field (2020 was conducted at neutral sites due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

The Tigers are one of seven ACC teams to secure a top-16 national seed (No. 2 Pitt, No. 8 Wake Forest, No. 10 Duke, No. 11 Virginia, No. 12 SMU, No. 16 Stanford). This marks the 37th overall appearance for the Tigers in the NCAA Tournament.

Clemson ended the regular season with a 11-2-3 record and No. 2 seed in the ACC Tournament. The Tigers advanced to the ACC Championship game, but fell to Wake Forest in penalty kicks (1-1, 7-6 PKs).

For the full tournament bracket, click here.

– Via Clemson Athletic Communications 

Clemson men’s soccer advances to the ACC Championship

Clemson is heading to another ACC Championship.

Cary, N.C. – For the fifth time in six seasons, Clemson men’s soccer advanced to the ACC Championship Final, downing 11-seed Cal, 3-2, on Thursday night at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. The win moves Clemson to 14-2-3 on the year, while the loss drops Cal to 8-8-2.

The Tigers were first on the board, early in the first half. In the 5’, Wahabu Musah played a pass from ACC Freshman of the Year Ransford Gyan past three Cal defenders and got a shot off that was saved by the Cal keeper, but was sent right to the feet of a waiting Tyler Trimnal, who put it in the net for his sixth goal of the season.

In the 23’, Alex Meinhard’s footwork led to a shot that went through the legs of one Cal defender and snuck just inside the left post for his 11th goal of the season, putting the Tigers up 2-0. Clemson earned six corner kicks in the first half and led the Golden Bears 2-0 at the break.

Cal got on the board first in the second half, in the 50’. On the Golden Bears’ third chance of the possession, Malcolm Zalayet was able to get one past the Clemson defense to cut the Tigers’ lead in half at 2-1. The Golden Bears continued to hold the momentum, leveling the score in the 62’ on a goal by Adrian Jacobs.

In the 65’, Musah fed a sprinting Gyan, who used a spin move to cut between two Cal defenders and then netted a chip-shot goal to put Clemson ahead 3-2. Cal had a chance to even the score in the 86’, but Clemson got another save from Donovan to preserve the Tigers’ lead. With just over 2:00 remaining, Trimnal had a chance at a brace after a breakaway opportunity, but Cal’s keeper made a huge save to keep Clemson at bay.

Donovan was credited with two saves on the night, while Musah earned assists on two of Clemson’s three goals. The Tigers finished the game with nine corners and 13 total shots.

Up next, the Tigers will face the No. 5 seed Wake Forest on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C., in the ACC Tournament Championship final, shown live on ESPNU.

– Via Clemson Athletic Communications

Clemson advances in ACC Tournament after win over Louisville

Clemson advances with a big win.

Two-seed Clemson men’s soccer scored three goals in the second half to advance past 15-seed Louisville, 3-1, on Wednesday night at Historic Riggs Field. The win moves the Tigers to 12-2-3 on the season, while the loss drops the Cardinals to 6-7-4.

The Tigers out-shot the Cardinals 16-12 on the night, earned nine corners to Louisville’s four and earned their second victory over the Cardinals this season. Patrick Donovan started in goal for Clemson and made a career-high five saves.

Joran Gerbet gave the Tigers the lead in the 47’. Following a foul in the box drawn by Tyler Trimnal, Gerbet buried his fourth PK goal of the season to put the Tigers in front. Louisville responded one minute later, however, tying the match at one.

Later in the 58’ following a shot attempt by Wahabu Musah, Ransford Gyan played a corner kick to Adam Lundegard who headed a pass to Alex Meinhard who put the ball in the back of the net to put Clemson back in front at 2-1.

In the 60’, Remi Okunlola took on the Louisville defense by himself and was able to rocket a shot past the keeper and into the corner to give Clemson the two-goal advantage.

The Tigers forced five Louisville saves in the first half and held the Cardinals to just three shots.

Up next, the Tigers await the winner of the Stanford/Notre Dame contest and will host the game on Sunday at a time TBA.

-Press release via Clemson Athletic Communications 

No. 3 Clemson takes down Syracuse behind Meinhard’s hat trick

Clemson takes down Syracuse.

Clemson, S.C. – Alex Meinhard recorded Clemson’s first hat trick of the season and No. 3 Clemson men’s soccer downed Syracuse, 6-1, on Friday night at Historic Riggs Field. The win moves Clemson to 10-2-2 on the year, 5-2-0 in ACC play, while the loss drops Syracuse to 6-6-3, 1-4-2 in ACC play. Friday’s six goals mark the second-straight game with six goals for Clemson.

Meinhard got the scoring started early, giving Clemson a 1-0 lead just 1:48 into play. Meinhard gathered the pass from Joran Gerbet at midfield and sprinted past all the Syracuse defenders and sent the ball just beyond the outstretched hand of the Orange keeper.

In the 15’, Syracuse was given a red card, leaving the Orange with just 10 men on the field for the remainder of the contest. Later, in the 25’, Remi Okunlola played a perfect ball to Wahabu Musah who scored his second goal in as many games this week at Historic Riggs Field. Meinhard then became the second Tiger to record a brace this season, scoring following a corner kick in the 30’. Just three minutes later, Meinhard recorded his first hat trick as a Tiger, scoring off of Gerbet’s second assist of the night. Following a foul in the box, Syracuse got on the board with a penalty kick goal in the 36’ to make the halftime score 4-1 in favor of the Tigers.

Tyler Trimnal pushed the Clemson lead back to four in the 48’, netting a header goal off of a Misei Yoshizawa corner kick. In the 63’, Antonio Illuminato gave Clemson its sixth goal in back-to-back games after Arthur Duquenne out-ran all of the Syracuse defense to create the scoring chance.

Up next, the Tigers return to Historic Riggs Field on Tuesday, October 29, hosting Wofford at 7:00 pm for Senior Day.

– Via Clemson Athletic Communications

Clemson takes down Queens, Noonan earns 400th win

Noonan earns win No. 400.

Clemson, S.C. – Behind three first-half goals, No. 8 Clemson downed Queens University of Charlotte, 4-2. The win moves Clemson to 8-2-2 on the season and gives Head Coach Mike Noonan his 400th career victory.

With the win, Noonan became the 27th head coach in NCAA history to earn 400 wins and is the 5th all-time winningest coach among active head coaches.

Queens jumped out to a 1-0 lead at the 26:02 mark, but less than 30 seconds later, Wahabu Musah tied the match off an assist from Antonio Illuminato. Queens regained the lead with 31:23 on the clock, but for the second game in a row, Clemson scored three unanswered goals to put the match away.

Ransford Gyan scored for the second-straight game to tie the game at 2 with 10:00 remaining in the first half, before Alex Meinhard put one in the back of the net to give Clemson a 3-2 lead heading into halftime. In the 65’, Tyler Trimnal scored on an assist from Arthur Duquenne to give Clemson the two goal win.

Up next, the Tigers host Upstate on Tuesday, October 22, in a 7:00 p.m. match at Historic Riggs Field.

-Press release via Clemson Athletic Communications

Mike Noonan earns 400th win as No. 8 Clemson downs Queens, 4-2

Mike Noonan earned his 400th career victory as Clemson soccer defeated Queens University of Charlotte, 4-2, on Tuesday.

The Clemson Tigers men’s soccer team defeated Queens, 4-2, Tuesday. This is a press release from Clemson Athletic Communications.

Clemson, S.C. – Behind three first-half goals, No. 8 Clemson downed Queens University of Charlotte, 4-2. The win moves Clemson to 8-2-2 on the season and gives Head Coach Mike Noonan his 400th career victory.

With the win, Noonan became the 27th head coach in NCAA history to earn 400 wins and is the 5th all-time winningest coach among active head coaches.

Queens jumped out to a 1-0 lead at the 26:02 mark, but less than 30 seconds later, Wahabu Musah tied the match off an assist from Antonio Illuminato. Queens regained the lead with 31:23 on the clock, but for the second game in a row, Clemson scored three unanswered goals to put the match away.

Ransford Gyan scored for the second-straight game to tie the game at 2 with 10:00 remaining in the first half, before Alex Meinhard put one in the back of the net to give Clemson a 3-2 lead heading into halftime. In the 65′, Tyler Trimnal scored on an assist from Arthur Duquenne to give Clemson the two goal win.

Up next, the Tigers host Upstate on Tuesday, October 22, in a 7:00 p.m. match at Historic Riggs Field.

—via Clemson Athletic Communications

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Late-game heroics lead No. 24 Clemson to upset of No. 3 North Carolina, 3-2

Clemson men’s soccer upsets No. 3 North Carolina.

The Clemson men’s soccer team scored a 3-2 upset win over ACC rival and No. 3-ranked North Carolina on Friday night.

The following is a press release from Clemson Athletic Communications:

Clemson, S.C. — Clemson scored twice in the game’s final seven minutes and the 24th-ranked Tigers (6-2-2, 3-2-0 ACC) upset the third-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels (6-1-3, 3-1-0 ACC), 3-2, on Friday night in front of 4,095 fans at Historic Riggs Field. Joran Gerbet picked up his first brace of the season during the match and Antonio Illuminato netted the game-winner in the 84′.

Illuminato’s goal was his third of the season and first game-winner for him in a Tiger uniform. Clemson’s win over No. 3 North Carolina is the Tigers’ first over a top-10 opponent since a win over Duke in November of 2022. Friday’s game was also a rematch of the 2023 ACC Championship Game, where the Tigers downed the Tar Heels in penalty kicks.

North Carolina was on the board first, opening the scoring in the 23′. The Tigers responded, however, using a free kick goal from Gerbet in the 32′ to send the game to halftime tied at one.

The teams were evenly matched for most of the second half, until Clemson’s Remi Okunlola was given a red card in the 68′, meaning the Tigers would play the final 22:00 with just 10 players.

In the 84′, Alex Meinhard drew contact in the box and following a video review, was awarded a penalty kick. Gerbet stepped up and calmly buried it to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead on his first brace of the season.

Just 2:00 later, it was North Carolina who drew contact in the box on Meinhard and earned a PK following video review. The Tar Heels’ Sam Williams tied the game at two with just under five minutes remaining.

Then, in the 86′, Clemson’s Wahabu Musah dribbled around five North Carolina defenders before crossing it to a crashing Illuminato, who drilled the ball to the back of the net to put the short-handed Tigers in front for good.

North Carolina out-shot the Tigers 10-5 with each keeper making just one save on the night. Coming into the match, the Tar Heels had only allowed five goals all season and Clemson was able to score twice in four minutes with just 10 players to take down the No. 3 team in the country.

Up next, the Tigers travel to Louisville, Ky., to take on the Cardinals on Friday night, October 11. The match is scheduled for 8 p.m.

Clemson men’s soccer overcomes weather to take down Liberty

Clemson takes down Liberty.

Clemson, S.C. – Due to inclement weather that resulted in two weather delays and ultimately an early end after 73 minutes of play, No. 12 Clemson mens’ soccer clinched a 1-0 midweek victory against Liberty. The Tigers move to 5-1-2 on the year, while the Flames drop to 2-3-1.

Misei Yoshizawa netted his fourth goal of the season in the game’s 21’ to put the Tigers ahead, 1-0. Ransford Gyan played the ball long, but Yoshizawa was able to recover it, turn and fire it right past the Liberty keeper to put the Tigers in front. At the half, Clemson had out-shot Liberty, 16-3, and forced the Flames’ keeper to make five saves.

Liberty’s best chance to respond came in the second half on a free kick in the 68’, but the ball was played wide. Roughly five minutes later, Clemson and Liberty entered into its second weather delay due to lightning in the area. Following the delay, it was decided that the conditions were not feasible to restart the game. Clemson was determined the winner following rule 7.7.4 that states any game that progressed to 70 minutes, will be considered complete, and the result shall stand and all statistics, including cards, shall count.

The Tigers’ back line held Liberty to only three shots – one of which was on goal. Junior Joseph Andema earned his fourth shutout of the 2024 season and 19th of his career as a result of the win. During the 73 minutes of action, Clemson was able to fire off 21 shots, seven of which were on goal, in comparison to the Flames’ three total, as Liberty was unable to attempt a shot during the second half of play.

Up next, the Tigers travel to Notre Dame on Friday evening, to take on the Fighting Irish in a 7:00 p.m. game to be shown on the ACC Network.

No. 5 Clemson Tigers shutout Boston College on the road

Clemson handles business against Boston College.

Boston, Mass. – Fifth-ranked Clemson men’s soccer (3-1-1, 1-1-0 ACC) defeated Boston College (2-1-3, 0-1-1 ACC) 1-0, for their first conference win of the season. The Tigers pushed their winning streak against Boston College to six games.

Misei Yoshizawa scored the first goal of the match in the 72’. Joran Gerbet sent the ball across the field to Yoshizawa, who used his left foot to curl the ball high into the left corner of the goal.

Joseph Andema made four saves on the night to earn his second shutout of the season. The Tigers out-shot the Eagles 13-12, earned four saves to BC’s three and earned 11 corner kicks compared to just two for Boston College.

During a scoreless first half, Clemson dominated possession of the ball with eight shots compared to just one for BC.

Next up, the Tigers continue their road trip, heading to Holy Cross. The Tigers take on the Crusaders at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, September 16 at the Linda Johnson Smith Soccer Stadium.

– Via Clemson Athletic Communications 

Clemson men’s soccer opens season with 3-0 shutout win over Penn State

Top-ranked Clemson men’s soccer blanked Penn State in the Tigers’ season opener Thursday at Historic Riggs Field.

Alex Meinhard was responsible for two goals, and top-ranked Clemson opened the 2024 men’s soccer season with a 3-0 shutout victory over Penn State at Historic Riggs Field Thursday.

The defending national champion Tigers, who enter the season ranked No. 1 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, scored two goals in the first half to hold a 2-0 lead at intermission.

Meinhard got the Tigers (1-0-0) on the board at the 20:16 mark of the first half following an assist from Remi Okunlola. Clemson doubled its lead with 8:30 to play in the half when Virginia Tech transfer Misei Yoshizawa sent a shot into the top right corner of the net.

In the second half, Meinhard increased the lead to 3-0 when he sent a shot that was deflected into the net by a Penn State (0-0-1) defender at the 52-minute mark.

Clemson finished with 12 shots — six in each half — to Penn State’s six. Tigers goalkeeper Joseph Andema finished with two two saves.

The Tigers head to Columbia to face South Carolina in their first road contest of the season on Friday, Aug. 30.

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