Clemson Hosts Villanova in 2018 Home Opener

CLEMSON, S.C. – After a three-match road stint, the Clemson men’s soccer team will play its home opener against Villanova on Monday night. 

Villanova Match Information
Who: Clemson Tigers (2-1-0) vs. Villanova Wildcats (3-0-0)
When: Monday, Sept. 3 at 7 p.m.
Where: Historic Riggs Field // Clemson, S.C.
Watch: http://www.espn.com/watch/_/id/3428954/villanova-vs-clemson-m-soccer
Live Stats: https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=225665
Follow: @ClemsonMSoccer on Twitter and Instagram

Clemson Notes:

• The Tigers are coming off a 2-0 road defeat of rival South Carolina on Friday night. Tanner Dieterich opened the scoring by converting on a penalty kick in the 49^th minute, and Adrian Nuñez, a transfer from North Florida, scored his first goal as a Tiger 19 minutes later to seal the Tigers’ fifth straight victory over the Gamecocks.
• Keeper Jonny Sutherland has played every minute of the Tigers’ first three matches in goal, totaling nine saves against two goals allowed. Both of those goals came during the first half against Creighton, and Sutherland has had five straight shutout halves since.
• Clemson’s 2018 roster is an even mix of returners and newcomers, with 14 Tiger veterans and 14 new faces making up the team.
• Clemson’s 2018 recruiting class was ranked No. 3 in the country in TopDrawerSoccer’s final recruiting rankings, placing it behind the classes of UCLA and Wake Forest.
• Sutherland was named to the 2018 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List as one of just four goalkeepers on the 32-player list.
• Midfielder John Murphy Jr. was named to TopDrawerSoccer’s Preseason Best XI Freshman team.
• Clemson was picked to finish second in the Atlantic Division in 2018, a spot above their 2017 finish, according to a preseason vote of the conference’s 12 head coaches. Clemson received four first-place votes in the division, placing it behind reigning ACC Champion Wake Forest, which was picked as the Atlantic Division favorite with eight first-place votes.
• The Tigers are led by team captains Patrick Bunk-Andersen and Dieterich.

Villanova Notes:

• Villanova is coming off a 1-0 overtime defeat of Loyola on Friday night, its second consecutive overtime victory. Zach Zandi netted the game-winner in the 96^th minute, and he has been a part of all three game-winning goals for the Wildcats this season.
• Zandi leads Villanova with three goals and two assists in the Wildcats’ three matches, good for eight points.
• Keeper Carson Williams has played every minute in goal for Villanova and has allowed two goals against 10 saves.

Series Notes:

• Monday’s match will mark the first meeting between Clemson and Villanova in men’s soccer.

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