Clemson Will Play Host to #6 Maryland Friday Night

Oct. 14, 2009

CLEMSON, SC – The Clemson Men¹s Soccer Team will play host to sixth-ranked Maryland on Friday, October 16, at 7:00 p.m. at Historic Riggs Field.

The match has been designated as Youth Night. The first 200 youngsters (12 years old and younger) wearing a soccer jersey will receive both free admission and a free t-shirt.

Maryland is the defending NCAA National Champions. Maryland defeated North Carolina 1-0 in the finals of the NCAA Men’s Soccer Cup in Frisco, TX last December. The Tigers were one of only two teams to defeat both Maryland and UNC last season.

Clemson defeated fourth-ranked Maryland 5-3 on October 3, 2008. Clemson’s Michael Brooks had four goals in this match and assisted on the other Tiger goal. This was the most goals that a Maryland team has allowed since the Terrapins lost to North Carolina 5-1 on October 7, 2000.

This will be the 49th meeting between Clemson and Maryland on the soccer field. Clemson leads the overall series 30-17-1. Clemson has won two out of the last three matches played between the two schools.

The 2009 season marks the 75th anniversary of Clemson soccer as the Tigers first played Furman on February 14, 1934. This was also the first intercollegiate men’s soccer match in the state of South Carolina. Clemson fielded soccer in 1934 through the 1939 season. Fred Kirshner coached the Tigers during this time.

The Tigers are 2-7-1 on the year, and 1-3 in the ACC. The Tigers are led in scoring by senior foward, Nathan Thornton with four goals and one assist for nine points. Joseph Bendik has 44 saves this season. He is now in sixth place on the Clemson career list for most saves with 230.

Maryland is now 8-3-1 overall and 3-1-1 in the ACC. Jason Herrick leads the Terrapins in scoring with five goals and one assist for 11 points. The Terps are ranked sixth by this week¹s Soccer America poll.