Fifth-Seeded Clemson To Host Second Round Match In NCAA Tournament

Nov. 19, 2001

Clemson, SC – The Clemson men’s soccer team, fresh off their ACC Tournament Championship, is the No. 5 seed for the upcoming NCAA Tournament and will host a second round match this Sunday at 1:00PM at Riggs Field. As the No. 5 seed, the Tigers have a bye for the first round and will face the winner of the Mercer and Kentucky match which will be played at Riggs Field on Friday night at 7:00PM.

This year’s bracket is the largest field in the history of the Division I men’s soccer tournament, since expansion of the bracket from 32 to 48 teams last summer. The teams will be vying for the right to compete at the 2001 NCAA Men’s College Cup on December 14 and 16 in Columbus, Ohio at Columbus Crew Stadium.

Southern Methodist University, the only remaining and undefeated team at 19-0, was awarded the No. 1 seed. Virginia, who won the ACC regular season championship but lost to Clemson in the ACC Tournament Finals, is the No. 2 seed. Stanford was named the No. 3 seed, while Indiana University, the Big Ten regular season and tournament champion is the tournament’s No. 4 seed.

After capturing the ACC Tournament Championship on Sunday, Clemson is the No. 5 seed and enters this year’s tournament with an impressive 17-4 overall record. In the finals of the ACC Tournament, Ian Fuller’s first half goal led the Tigers to a win over second-ranked and previously unbeaten Virginia. Clemson won the match despite being without Steven Rhyne and Dimelon Westfield, the team’s second and third leading scorers who both sat out the match due to hamstring injuries. The Tigers have won 16 of their last 18 matches and have a 10-2 record against teams in this year’s tournament.

The Tigers will be making their 22nd appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The 22 appearances are tied for sixth best in NCAA history. Clemson boasts a 38-20 overall record in the NCAA Tournament and rank fourth nationally in terms of tournament wins. Over the last five seasons, Clemson has made two trips to the Round of 16 and two trips to the Final Eight. Last season, the Tigers lost to eventual national champion Connecticut 2-1 in overtime in the Round of 16.

“Getting a No. 5 seed is a credit to our team and the difficult schedule we have played,” said Clemson Head Coach Trevor Adair. “We have a 10-2 record against teams in the tournament and I think that experience will help us down the road. The regular season is over, though, and our team has to realize that we are getting ready to begin a new season. Nothing is going to be handed to us and what we have done in the past will not get us to where we want to be in the future.”

First and Second Round NCAA Matches to be played at Clemson, SC

Friday, Nov. 23 First Round- Mercer vs. Kentucky 7:00PM

Sunday Nov. 25 Second Round- Mercer/Kentucky winner vs. Clemson 1:00PM