Men?s Soccer Opens Season at South Carolina Friday

South Carolina Match Information


Who: Clemson Tigers (0-0-0, No. 3 in NSCAA Poll) vs. South Carolina Gamecocks (0-0-0, No. 24 in NSCAA Poll)When: Friday, Aug. 26 at 7 p.m.Where: Eugene E. Stone III Stadium, Columbia, S.C.Live Video: SEC Network Plus (http://es.pn/2aIOxB2
)Live Stats: GamecocksOnline.com (http://www.gamecocksonline.com/gametracker/launch/gt_msoccer.html?event=1499452&school=scar&sport=msoccer&camefrom=&startschool=&)Follow: @ClemsonMSoccer on Twitter and InstagramNext Match: Clemson vs. Providence on Sunday, Aug. 28 at 6:30 p.m. (Clemson, S.C.) 

South Carolina Match Notes

•  Friday night’s match will be the regular season opener for both teams.
• Clemson is ranked No. 3 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Preseason Poll, No. 5 by Hero Sports, No. 6 by Soccer America, and No. 10 by Top Drawer Soccer.  
• Clemson returns seven starters and 16 letter winners from last season’s National Finalist team.
• The Tigers are led by team captains Iman Mafi, Austen Burnikel and Oliver Shannon this season. 
• Clemson has nine true freshmen on its roster this season. Along with one transfer from Pittsburgh.
• The two teams met last season on September 4 at Historic Riggs Field. The match ended in a 3-0 victory for the Tigers.
• The Gamecocks were undefeated at home in 10 contest last season.
• Clemson leads the overall series 25-17-1

Palmetto Series Notes

• Clemson and South Carolina will meet for the second time in the Certified SC Grown Palmetto Series this year. The Series highlights Clemson-South Carolina match-ups across all varsity sports. Each school will earn points with every win over the other. 
• The men’s soccer team has the chance to claim the first point of this season on Friday for either school.