Clemson to play N.C. State in the NCAA Tournament Second Round

Nov. 21, 2005

CLEMSON, SC–The Clemson men’s soccer team will play N.C. State in Raleigh, NC on Tuesday afternoon (November 22) at 2:00 p.m. at the Method Road Soccer Field.

Clemson defeated Coastal Carolina 2-0 in the first round played at Clemson last Friday night. The Tigers have a 12-5-3 record this season. In the final Soccer America poll, the Tigers are ranked 12th. This is the highest that Clemson has been ranked in the final pool since the 2001 season, when the Tigers finished fourth. Clemson has been ranked in the final Soccer America Poll 18 times since 1980, the first year of the Soccer America poll. Of the 18 years Clemson has been ranked in the final Soccer America poll, Clemson has been in the top 12, 11 years.

In the NSCAA poll this week, the Tigers are ranked 15th this week. The NSCAA will put out another poll after the National Championship match. NC State checks in at No. 18 in the Soccer America Poll and No. 23 in the NSCAA Coaches’ Poll.

Clemson is led in scoring by Dane Richards, as he has nine goals and eight assists for 26 points. Mark Buchholz has five goals and two assists for 12 points.

N.C. State has an 11-6-1 record this season. The Wolfpack are the number 14 seed overall in this year’s NCAA Tournament. Earlier this season, N.C. State defeated Clemson 2-0 on September 30. Aaron King leads N.C. State with 15 goals and three assists for 33 points. Bryant Salter has five goals and five assists for 15 points.

Clemson leads the overall series with the Wolfpack, 28-12-6, and the Tigers hold the advantage in games played in Raleigh 12-5-4. NC State and Clemson will be meeting for the fourth time in NCAA Tournament action with the Tigers winning three of these contests.