#10 Clemson Opens Season at #12 Auburn Friday

Match Information:Who: Clemson Tigers at Auburn TigersWhen: Friday, Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. CT (8 p.m. ET)Where: Auburn Soccer Complex, Auburn, Ala.Rankings: Clemson – No. 10 Soccer America, No. 10 Top Drawer Soccer, No. 14 NSCAA; Auburn – No. 14 Soccer America, No. 14 Top Drawer Soccer, No. 12 NSCAAFollow: @ClemsonWSoccer on Twitter and InstagramLive Video: SEC Network + (http://es.pn/2aO2tLH)Live Stats: AuburnTigers.com (http://www.auburntigers.com/gametracker/launch/gt_wsoccer.html?event=1500304&school=aub&sport=wsoccer&camefrom=&startschool=&)

Clemson Notes:

• Clemson was 14-4-2 overall and 7-3 in the ACC in 2015. The 7-3 finish put the Tigers in a tie for second place in the conference regular season standings, and earned the team a berth in the prestigious four-team ACC Tournament. In the NCAA Tournament a year ago, Clemson reached the second round before failing to advance in penalty kicks.
• The Tigers return all 11 starters from the 2015 squad, including senior midfielder Catrina Atanda, who posted five goals and three assists for 13 points to lead the team in scoring. Claire Wagner, Sam Staab, Jenna Weston and Abby Jones also return, each having recorded 10 or more points on the season.
• Jones, a senior midfielder and 2015 Third Team All-ACC selection, is a native of Auburn, Ala.
• Senior, All-American and First-Team All-ACC goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan also returns for the Tigers in 2016, however, is currently at the Olympics in Rio with Canada’s Women’s National Team. Two freshmen, Sandy MacIver and Melanie Stiles, will play in goal during Sheridan’s absence.
• All four players on the Tigers’ stalwart defense are also back for 2016, including Wagner, Staab and twins Emily Byorth and Gabby Byorth. The group aided the team in record a 0.96 goals against average in 2015, and only allowed opponents to take 209 shots on the season, as opposed to Clemson’s 302 on the year.
• Head Coach Eddie Radwanski is entering his sixth season at the helm of the Clemson program. Radwanski was named the NSCAA’s Southeast Region Coach of the Year in 2015.
• The Tigers defeated Tennessee 1-0 on the road in their only exhibition match of the season. Freshman Julie Mackin scored the lone goal, with an assist by Staab, in the victory.

Auburn Notes:

• Auburn finished the 2015 season ranked 16-6-1 and reached the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time in program history.
• Senior midfielder Casie Ramsier returns for the Tigers after leading the team in scoring with 12 goals and four assists for 28 points a season ago.
• Auburn played to a 2-2 draw against Alabama in its only exhibition match of the preseason, on Aug. 11 in Auburn, Ala.

Series Notes:

• Clemson has a 5-1-1 record in the series against Auburn, which dates back to 1994, the inaugural season for the Clemson program, and which it defeated Auburn, 3-0.
• The last regular season meeting between the two teams was a 2-1 victory for the Clemson on Aug. 22, 2014 at Historic Riggs Field.
• The last time the two teams met in Auburn, the match ended in a 0-0 double-overtime draw on Aug. 23, 2013.