Clemson Will Play Host to Virginia on Friday Night

Sept. 29, 2011

CLEMSON, SC – The Clemson men’s soccer team will play host to ACC foe Virginia at 7:00 p.m. on Friday at Historic Riggs Field. The Virginia match was originally scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m., but was changed to accommodate television. Fox Sports South will carry the game live as part of the ACC Soccer Television package.

The Tigers are 3-4 on the year, and 1-2 in the ACC. The Tigers have won two matches in a row. Clemson defeated N.C. State 2-1 on Friday, September 23, and Gardner-Webb 2-1 on Tuesday, September 27.

Clemson is led in scoring by Brynjar Benediktsson with four goals and two assists for 10 points. He has two game winning goals to his credit this year. Austin Savage had three goals and one assist for seven points. Amadou Dia has two goals for four points. Iain Smith leads the Tigers in assists with three.

This will be the 53rd meeting between Clemson and Virgina on the soccer field. The Cavaliers lead the overall series 26-21-5. The last four meetings have been decided by one goal. In the last seven meetings, Virginia has won four of those matches. In 2009, Clemson defeated the 11th-ranked Cavaliers 1-0, in Charlottesville, VA. Last season, Virginia defeated the Tigers 1-0 at Clemson, SC. In matches played at Clemson, SC the Cavaliers lead 11-10-2.

Virginia is 5-4 overall this season and 1-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Will Bates has nine goals and three assists for 21 points to lead the Cavaliers in scoring. Brian Span has two goals and three assists for seven points.

Brynjar Benediktsson scored with only :10 seconds left in the second overtime period in leading Clemson to a 2-1 victory over Gardner-Webb at Clemson, SC on September 27.

This marked the second game in a row that Benediktsson has scored the game winner in the second overtime period with only seconds remaining. On Friday, September 23, Benediktsson scored the game winner with only :29 seconds remaining in the second overtime period to give the Tigers a 2-1 win over N.C. State.

Brynjar Benediktsson now holds the Clemson record for the latest goal scored in an overtime period with time constraints with only :10 seconds remaining. He set the record in the 2-1 over Gardner-Webb with only :10 seconds remaining in the second overtime period.

The latest goal scored in regulation to win a match was Jimmy Glenn’s goal at the 89:59 mark against Virginia as he led the Tigers to a 2-1 win over the number-one ranked Cavaliers on October 10, 1993, in Charlottesville Virginia.

The latest Clemson goal ever scored without time constraints was Henry Abadi’s goal at the 139:12 mark as he led the Tigers to a 1-0 win over South Florida on December 2, 1973 in a NCAA Tournament match.

To help celebrate Youth Soccer Month, Clemson Head Coach Mike Noonan has declared the Clemson-Virginia match Youth Night. Youth players wearing their team’s soccer uniform will be admitted free.

Youth Soccer Month is designed to raise awareness of Youth Soccer and the benefits of playing the game. It is also used to emphasize soccer as the number one youth participation sport in America and a leading contributor to the healthy lifestyle of millions of American families.

Youth soccer month bring kids and families of all ages and all abilities together for fun, friendship and fitness. And it also highlight the various programs available to children interested in participating in soccer, including inner-city, special needs, recreational and elite soccer programs.