Women’s Team
#10 Clemson 1 - Notre Dame 0
It was another nail biter that didn’t need to be a nail biter. The Tigers had 12 shots on goal but only managed to push one across for 1-0 win over the Fighting Irish. Clemson’s lone goal came from an unlikely source when senior defender Mackenzie Smith stepped into a Renee Guion pass and crushed it off the bottom of the crossbar and over the line. Smith opened her account, and Guion picked up another assist from her fullback position. Guion was tied for 1st in the nation with 7 assists going into the game, and should remain there. Her service from the wing has been impeccable.
We're not saying this is the best 24 seconds you'll watch this week but we kind of are saying this is the best 24 seconds you'll watch this week... ♀️ pic.twitter.com/6aGpwWx7Le
— Clemson Women's Soccer (@clemsonwsoccer) September 21, 2019
Clemson once again struggled to finish up top, with Speckmaier, Morris, Jones and Mackin (Clemson’s forwards) combing for 6 shots and 0 goals. The Tigers have to become more efficient in the attacking 1/3. The talent up top is undeniable, but the results have been uneven.
Sandy MacIver played up to her high standards between the posts, recording 3 saves and putting another shut out on the board. Anything but a shutout for Sandy is a let down at this point because of her prodigious talent. If the Tigers find their shooting boots, the defense the quality to not only win the ACC, but also take home the big trophy.
Next Match(s)
Thursday (9/26) #10 Clemson vs #6 F.S.U. @ Historic Riggs Field - 7:30 PM
Sunday (9/29) #10 Clemson vs #18 Virginia Tech @ Historic Riggs Field - 1 PM
Men’s Team
Fordham 2 - #7 Clemson 3 (OT)
This was one of those games that happen in soccer. Clemson dominated, out shooting Fordham 18-8 and taking 8 corner kicks to the Rams 0, but couldn’t finish off the inferior team.
Clemson started slow and gave up the first goal of the match in the 24th minute off a header. That goal snapped the Tigers out of their lethargy. Robbie Robinson answered the Fordham goal quickly, netting his 6th goal of the season in the 34th minute and following that up with a dazzling display of skill 4 minutes later to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead going into the half.
The Tigers controlled the 2nd half throughout, but couldn’t find a way to push in a goal to ice the game. Disaster has a way of striking when you don’t finish off an inferior team, and in the 75th minute, a Clemson own goal leveled the score. The Tigers peppered the Ram’s goal in the last 15 minutes, but to no avail, and extra time was needed to decide the contest.
Overtime saw Clemson continue to dominate and not score until Alvaro Gomez ripped the game winner into the back of the Fordham net with 23 seconds remaining.
GAME WINNER IN OVERTIME @ClemsonMSoccer's Alvaro Gomez gets it done with 2️⃣3️⃣ seconds remaining! pic.twitter.com/uHNsxB8kN9
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) September 18, 2019
#15 Duke 1 - #7 Clemson 3
Clemson came out of the gates with determination and dominated the Blue Devils from whistle to whistle. They out shot Duke 22-5, and forced Duke keeper Will Pulisic to make 11 saves to keep the game respectable. This sort of performance over a quality opponent makes the ACC and the rest of the nation take notice.
James Brighton opened the scoring for Clemson, finishing off a Justin Malou cross with a thumping header in the 25th minute. Once the Tigers found the first goal, they were on their front foot, controlling the game from the midfield and make Pulisic stand on his head to keep Duke in the match.
The Tigers didn’t let up in the second half. Grayson Barber found the back of the net off an Adrian Nunez pass in the 64th minute for an insurance goal. That goal came in handy as Duke pulled a goal back in the 86th minute to breath life into the game. That spark, however, was extinguished as Kimarni Smith once again proved he was better than the defense, scoring from 18 yards out, and putting the final nail in the Blue Devil’s coffin.
Get your popcorn, sit back and enjoy all of the angles from our three goals Friday night!#ClemsonUnited pic.twitter.com/tgthY8G3Le
— Clemson Men's Soccer (@ClemsonMSoccer) September 22, 2019
Next Match(s)
Tuesday (9/24 @ Furman - 7 PM
Saturday (9/28) @ Wake Forest - 7 PM