CLEMSON, S.C. - Sophomore Xander Sevian scored two goals and recorded an assist to push the No. 21 Clemson Tigers to a 5-1 victory over North Florida at Historic Riggs Field on Tuesday night. It was a night of firsts for three Tigers as freshman Philip Rolke and senior Martin Bakken scored their first goals as Tigers, and senior Remi Okunlola scored his first goal of the season.
Clemson’s offense fired off 17 shots, including 10 on goal throughout the 90-minute contest. In addition to the shot advantage, the Tigers had a 7-4 corner kick edge as well. Senior Mason Jimenez joined Sevian with a multi-point night, clocking two assists to help Clemson improve to 5-2 on the year, while North Florida dropped to 4-3-1.
Goal scoring proved to be the theme for the first half with three goals scored in 45 seconds between both teams. Sevian recorded his second career brace after scoring a no-look header off a corner kick served by Jimenez in the 13’ to open up the scoring race. Rolke quickly followed suit, finding the back of the net on a ball sent from Jimenez to put the Tigers up 2-0.
North Florida responded 26 seconds later with a shot across the box, cutting Clemson's lead in half. Sevian broke through North Florida's backline 15 seconds later to score the Tigers’ third goal of the half and his fourth of the season.
The Tigers continued to pack on the shots in the second half. Junior Ransford Gyan threaded the needle to find Okunlola, who juked the ball past North Florida’s keeper, to extend the Tigers’ lead in the 66’ minute. Bakken finished the scoring with a one-timer that was taken after Sevian fired a shot in the 79’ that was deflected by the Ospreys' goalkeeper. The ricocheted goal put Clemson up 5-1 on North Florida and secured the Tigers’ fifth win of the year.
Up Next
The Tigers return to conference play on Saturday, Sept. 19 when they travel to Chapel Hill, N.C. for a matchup against North Carolina. Action is slated to begin at 7 p.m. on ACCNX.