CLEMSON, S.C. – The Clemson men’s soccer team will square-off with eight NCAA Tournament teams from a season ago as head coach Mike Noonan announced the 2019 schedule on Friday. Five of Clemson’s opponents in 2019 finished last season ranked in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25.
The Tigers return 10 of their 12 starters from a season ago and are a more seasoned team, putting 10 upperclassmen on the pitch come August.
The Tigers will play a pair of scrimmages in a four-day span ahead of the 2019 season opener. Clemson travels to Conway, S.C. to take on Coastal Carolina on August 20 before returning to Historic Riggs Field to host Presbyterian College on August 24 in the final tune-up before the regular season begins.
Clemson kicks off the 2019 regular season with a home match against in-state foe South Carolina on Friday, August 30. The Tigers ride a five-game winning streak against the Gamecocks into the first match of the season. Clemson is 29-17-1 all-time when playing South Carolina.
Following the season opener, the Tigers remain at Historic Riggs Field to host the University of Detroit-Mercy (Sept. 2), UNC-Greensboro (Sept. 6) before rounding out the four-game homestand with a Monday matchup against USC-Upstate (Sept. 9). Clemson has not opened the season with four straight road games since the 2015 campaign. The Tigers went 3-0-1 in the first four games of the season that year.
The Tigers head to South Bend, Indiana for their first conference game of the season, taking on Notre Dame on September 13. Clemson is seeking its first win in South Bend as Notre Dame holds the 2-0 advantage at home.
Non-Conference Highlights
The non-conference slate features a variety of opponents including matchups with Fordham (Sept. 17), College of Charleston (Oct. 1) and Radford (Oct. 22).
A Trio of Tough Opponents
The Tigers kick off a tough three-match stretch in September when they host three consecutive NCAA Tournament teams from a season ago. Clemson and Duke square-off at Historic Riggs Field on September 20 before the Tigers head just up 123 to take on Furman on September 24.
Just four days later, Clemson takes on reigning ACC Regular Season Champion Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, N.C. (Sept. 28).
Seeking Redemption
October is a month for the Tigers to prove themselves as they face-off with a pair of opponents that bested Clemson a season ago last season.
On Oct. 11 Clemson hosts last year’s ACC Champion, Louisville, in a Friday night match at Historic Riggs. The Tigers then seek redemption against Boston College on Oct. 25 after falling to the Eagles, 3-2, in the first ACC match of the 2018.
Closing Out the ACC Slate
Clemson squares-off with Virginia Tech on October 5, marking the first time that the Tigers and the Cavaliers have met since the 2015 season. On October 19, the Tigers head up north to take on the Syracuse Orange, looking to post wins in back-to-back years over ‘Cuse.
Clemson’s final ACC game of the regular season comes on Nov. 1 when the Tigers visit the NC State Wolfpack in Raleigh.
FULL SCHEDULE
