Tag: Clemson Soccer

Phil Jones Named a Top Assistant Coach by College Soccer News

Clemson’s Phil Jones was recognized as a top assistant in college soccer.

CLEMSON, S.C. – Associate Head Coach Phil Jones has been named one of the Top Assistant Coaches in the nation, as announced by College Soccer News. You can read the full press release here.

Finishing his 14th year at Clemson and his 15th working with head coach Mike Noonan, Jones helped lead the 2023 Tigers’ team to a fourth National Championship Title. After being an assistant coach for the Tigers in 2010 and 2011, Jones was elevated to the role of associate head coach in the spring of 2012.

Jones adds this accolade to his list of accomplishments, previously being named to the College Soccer News Top Assistant Coaches in 2015 and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NCSAA) South Region Assistant Coach-of-the-Year in 2013.

Jones has played a prominent role in the resurrection and assertion of Clemson men’s soccer as one of the top programs in the nation, contributing to the development of the team’s culture and expectation of excellence since his first days on campus. Since 2010, Clemson has produced 48 All-ACC players and two freshman All-Americans. Three players under Jones’ direction have earned NSCAA Scholar All-America Team honors and one player was named a CoSIDA Academic All-American.

Coach Jones has made notable impacts both on and off the pitch, and the team looks forward to a fun spring season.

– Via Clemson Athletic Communications 

Ousmane Sylla Praises Clemson in Hermann Trophy Acceptance Speech

What Ousmane Sylla said in Hermann Trophy acceptance speech Friday night.

Ousmane Sylla became the fourth player in Clemson history to take home the NCAA’s most prestigious award when he was named the winner of the 2024 MAC Hermann Trophy Friday night at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.

Sylla became the second Tigers player in five years to take home the honor after Robbie Robinson won the award in 2019. He beat out Garrison Tubbs of Wake Forest and Charlie Sharp of Western Michigan to secure the honor.

In his acceptance speech, Sylla recognized Clemson as being home to both a strong soccer program and a special community. He also gave special praise to coach Mike Noonan.

“First of all, I want to say thank you to God for giving me everything and a special thank you to Clemson University for giving a young man who comes from Africa a great (chance),” Sylla said. “I’m very grateful to the Clemson community and also coach Noonan. Thank you, Coach Noonan, for everything you have done for me.

“I’m very thankful. I know, me and you, this season was not easy, but thankfully we ended up accomplishing everything that we have been praying for. Also, I want to say thank you to my teammates. They are very special to me. They did a lot for me. Without them, I couldn’t be here. I’m very thankful to my family.

“Thank you for all the people who voted for me. I congratulate these two (fellow finalists). They are classy players also. They deserve to be here. And thank you, St. Louis, Missouri for hosting this amazing event. Thank you for everything.”

Sylla helped lead the Clemson program to its second national championship in three seasons with the Tigers’ 2-1 victory over Notre Dame on December 11. The Dakar, Senegal native finished the year with 13 goals, 10 assists, and 36 total points — the latter two categories placed him in the top 10 nationally.

Sylla was drafted 55th overall by Houston Dynamo FC in the 2023 MLS Draft. He was also named the MVP of the ACC Tournament as well as the College Cup this past season.

Clemson’s Ousmane Sylla Earns NCAA Soccer’s Highest Honor

Clemson’s Ousmane Sylla becomes fourth player in school history to win the MAC Hermann Trophy.

Clemson’s Ousmane Sylla was awarded the MAC Hermann Trophy, the highest individual honor in NCAA Division I soccer, Friday night at the presentation’s annual awards ceremony at the Missouri Athletic Club.

Sylla became the fourth player in Clemson history to win the prestigious award, joining 2019 winner Richie Robinson, Bruce Murphy (1987), and Wojtek Krakowiak (1998). He was the third Clemson player in five years to be nominated for the award.

A senior from Dakar, Senegal, Sylla finished with 13 goals and 10 assists in 23 games this past season. In four years at Clemson, he totaled 24 goals and 24 assists in 71 matches, including 58 starts.

Sylla helped lead the Tigers to the 2023 men’s national championship. In their 2-1 victory over Notre Dame on December 11, Sylla’s 13th and final goal of the season gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead that would prove to be enough. The victory marked the program’s second NCAA championship in three years under head coach Mike Noonan.

Sylla beat out two other finalists for the award in Garrison Tubbs of Wake Forest and Charlie Sharp of Western Michigan.

The Hermann Trophy has been presented to the top player in college soccer since 1967. Sylla was drafted 55th overall by Houston Dynamo FC in the 2023 Major League Soccer (MLS) Draft in December.

Clemson defeats Notre Dame to win the College Cup

Clemson takes down Notre Dame to win the 2023 College Cup.

Mike Noonan and the Clemson men’s soccer team are your 2023 College Cup winners.

The No.9 Tigers took down No.2 Notre Dame 2-1 in the National Championship at Lynn Family Stadium., their second in three seasons. Noonan has led this program to an excellent run as they prove once again that they are one of the top teams in the country.

This is Noonan and the Tigers’ second College Cup win in the last three seasons, putting this program in elite territory. It is their fourth National Championship as a program, another great feat. Congratulations to Noon and the Tigers, who ended their seasons with a 15-3-5 record and another Championship.

No.9 Clemson faces No.2 Notre Dame in the College Cup final

Clemson faces Notre Dame in the College Cup final tonight.

CLEMSON, S.C. – The No. 9 seed Clemson men’s soccer program’s 2023 NCAA Tournament journey will conclude on Monday evening, as the Tigers face ACC-foe and No. 2 seed Notre Dame in the College Cup championship at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville, Ky. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be shown on ESPNU.

The Tigers earned a first-round bye with a national seed after capturing their fifth ACC Tournament Championship on Nov. 12. Clemson went on to defeat Charlotte, 3-0, in the second round and upset No. 8 New Hampshire, 1-0, on the road in the Sweet 16 on Sunday to advance to its 17th Elite 8 appearance in program history. Last Saturday, the Tigers downed Stanford, 2-0, at Historic Riggs Field to earn the program’s 10th College Cup appearance. Friday evening, Clemson topped No. 5 West Virginia, 1-0, on a first-half goal from Shawn Smart to earn their second NCAA Championship appearance in three seasons.

Notre Dame earned its third trip to the College Cup after topping Indiana in PKs. Then on Friday, the Fighting Irish downed Oregon State, 1-0, to send the program to its second NCAA Championship appearance in school history.

The two teams met at the College Cup in 2021, with Clemson advancing to the championship in penalty kicks. The Tigers would go on to win third third National Championship in school history.

Notre Dame owns a 7-5-2 record all-time against the Tigers. The two teams met earlier this season, with the Fighting Irish taking the 3-2 win on Sept. 9 at Notre Dame.

Tickets for Monday’s game can be purchased here.

For complete coverage of the Clemson men’s soccer team, follow @ClemsonMSoccer on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Clemson’s Ousmane Sylla named United Soccer Coaches All-American

Sylla has been recognized for his phenomenal season.

Clemson, S.C. – For the first time in his career, Ousmane Sylla earned All-America honors, it was announced today by the United Soccer Coaches organization. The Dakar, Senegal, native earned a spot on the First Team, as voted on by the organization.

Sylla is the 37th Tiger in program history (44th total) to earn All-America honors and first since 2021.

The senior adds to his many recognitions this season, already having been named an All-ACC First Team performer, the ACC Tournament MVP and First Team All-South Region. Earlier this week, he was named First-Team All-South Region and a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist.

Sylla has led the Tigers offensively this season, with 12 goals and 10 assists on the year. He ranks in the top 50 in Division I in eight categories, including being ranked fifth in the country in total points (34).

To view the full All-American list, click here. This year’s All-Americans will be recognized for their accomplishments at the United Soccer Coaches All-America Ceremony & Reception on Saturday, January, 13, 2024 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California, in conjunction with the United Soccer Coaches Convention.

–Via Clemson Athletic Communications 

Social media reacts: Clemson Men’s Soccer advances to the National Championship

Here is a look at how social media reacted to Clemson advancing to the big one.

Mike Noonan and the Clemson men’s soccer team have had a phenomenal season and it’s not over yet.

The Tigers advances to the National Championship Friday as they defeated West Virginia 1-0 in a shutout victory, sealing their spot in the big one. Clemson (14-3-5) will advance to play in their sixth National Championship match in school history, the most recent a 2-0 victory over Washington in 2021. Clemson has claimed three titles in its history, including the 1984 and 1987 championships, and has appeared in three title games since 2015.

Noonan and his team are once again fighting for a National Championship and it has people excited. Here is a look at how Twitter/X reacted to the Tigers advancing to the National Championship.

Clemson Men’s Soccer advances to the National Championship

Clemson men’s soccer takes down West Virginia and advances to the National Championship.

LOUISVILLE – Ninth-seeded Clemson advanced to the National Championship match with a 1-0 shutout over No. 5 West Virginia (17-3-4) in the College Cup semifinal at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville, Ky. Kickoff for the final is scheduled for Monday at 6 p.m. and will be shown on ESPNU against either Notre Dame or Oregon State. Shawn Smart’s second goal of the season, an incredible strike in the 37th minute, was all the Tigers would need in picking up the victory.

The Tigers (14-3-5) will advance to play in their sixth National Championship match in school history, the most recent a 2-0 victory over Washington in 2021. Clemson has claimed three titles in its history, including the 1984 and 1987 championships, and has appeared in three title games since 2015.

Clemson put five shots on goal, and surrendered just two all night against the Mountaineers in the teams’ first meeting since 1974. Joseph Andema earned the shutout, his fourth of the NCAA Tournament and tenth on the season.

Shawn Smart got the Tigers on the board in the 37th minute with a wicked right foot on a give-and-go with Mohamed Seye. Smart controlled a ball in the middle of the field and played a high ball in to Seye, who headed it back to Smart. Smart got his right foot on it and sent it near-side with pace past WVU keeper Jackson Lee.

West Virginia had a chance for the equalizer in the 58th minute as Marcus Caldeira sent a rocket from long, but the ball sailed just high above Andema’s outstretched hand.

Alex Meinhard gave the Tigers a chance to double the lead in the 65th minute as he dribbled to the left side of the box and let a shot go that Lee saved with his left foot. Trimnal had another chance in the 84th that Lee again kept out of net. However, Smart’s goal would stand as the Tiger defense was up to the challenge.

-Via Clemson Athletic Communications

Clemson takes down Stanford to advance to the College Cup

Clemson takes down Stanford to advance to the College Cup.

Clemson, S.C. – Behind a dominant performance from the offense and in front of an electric crowd, Clemson men’s soccer punched their ticket to the 2023 College Cup on Saturday night, downing Stanford 2-0 in front of a sold-out Historic Riggs Field.

The Tigers have now reached the College Cup for the 10th time in school history and second time in three years. The win also marked the first-ever win over future ACC member Stanford, and allowed the Tigers to avenge 2019 heartbreak, when Stanford advanced to the College Cup from Historic Riggs Field, defeating Clemson in PKs.

The Tigers put pressure on Stanford immediately, getting two corners early. On the third corner, Joran Gerbet sent a perfect ball into the box and Gael Gibert got a head on it and flicked it into the far corner to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead in the 7’.

Clemson continued to push the pace of the game, out-shooting Stanford 6-0 in the first half. In the 37’, Arthur Duquenne corralled a break, took a shot that was saved by the Stanford keeper, but Tyler Trimnal was there to recover the ricochet and send it in to double Clemson’s lead.

The Tigers continued to control the game in the second half, keeping Stanford without a shot until the 54’. Neither team found the back of the net in the second half, but Joseph Andema made two key saves to preserve the shutout.

Clemson now has outscored opponents 6-0 in three NCAA Tournament games this season.

Up next – Clemson will travel to Louisville, Ky., to face West Virginia in the 2023 College Cup semifinals. The Tigers join fellow ACC member Notre Dame, as well as Oregon State in Louisville.

–Via Clemson Athletic Communications 

Clemson takes down New Hampshire 1-0, advances to Elite Eight

Clemson has advanced to the Elite Eight after taking down New Hampshire.

Durham, N.H. – Ousmane Sylla netted his team-leading 12th goal of the season and No. 9 Clemson downed No. 8 New Hampshire, 1-0, on Sunday night in the Round of 16. With the win, the Tigers advance to the Elite 8 for the second time in three seasons and 17th time in school history.

Clemson will now host Stanford in a rematch of the 2019 Elite Eight on Saturday night at 6:00 p.m.

The physicality of the game started early, with four fouls in the game’s first seven minutes. New Hampshire had the first scoring chance, but a save by Andema kept the game knotted at zero early. The Wildcats continued to pressure, but the Tigers’ defense did not give in, keeping the home team off the scoreboard.

Clemson held the advantage the latter half of the first, with five corner kicks to show for it. Then, in the 35’, Alex Meinhard ricocheted a shot off a New Hampshire defender, before it was corralled by Ousmane Sylla who sent it into the back of the net to give the Tigers the 1-0 lead.

Clemson’s defense continued to shine in the second half, keeping New Hampshire off the board with two key saves by Andema. The Tigers had a chance to double the lead in the 65’, but a save by the Wildcats kept the score at 1-0.

Up next – after 16-seed Stanford knocked off 1-seed Marshall, the Tigers will now host the Cardinal in the Elite 8 at Historic Riggs Field on Saturday at 6:00 p.m.

– Via Clemson Athletic Communications