CLEMSON, S.C. - Two goals within a 90-second span in the second half proved to be the deciding factors as the Clemson Tigers defeated East Tennessee State (1-1), 2-0, on Sunday evening at Historic Riggs Field. Junior Duncan Wilson broke open the stalemate in the 66’, and sophomore Cooper Hineline followed with a goal in the 67’ to move the Tigers to 2-0 on the year.
Clemson outshot the Buccaneers, 13-7, with six shots on goal. The Tigers also were allotted 13 corner kicks, the most since September 16, 2025 when Clemson had 15 against Queens. In the net, sophomore goalkeeper Gaizka Garcia finished with two saves to secure his first career clean sheet.
Although the score remained 0-0 through the first 45’, the Tigers maintained possession for 63 percent of the half, piling on chances in the box. Clemson recorded five corner kick attempts within the half, yet were unable to capitalize on the backend. Sophomore Cooper Hineline provided a glimmer of hope with a shot after junior Ransford Gyan sent a ball sailing over the box, but ETSU’s goalkeeper shuffled across his line just in time to prevent a Clemson goal after 42’.
Wilson opened the scoring for the Tigers in the 66’ giving Clemson a 1-0 lead following a rebound off the ETSU keeper after a shot from Xander Sevian. The Tigers used the momentum shift as Wilson fired on goal less than a minute later, which ETSU’s keeper saved. In the scramble in front of the net, freshman Mateja Markovic fielded and fed the ball to Hineline for his first collegiate career goal, which put Clemson ahead 2-0. The Tigers controlled the pace for the remainder of the game, securing their second win of the season.
Up Next
The Tigers hit the road for a three-game stretch beginning on Friday, Aug. 28 in Columbia, S.C. with a Palmetto Series matchup against South Carolina on ESPN+ at 7 p.m.