CLEMSON, S.C. - Head Coach Mike Noonan reached his 200th win at the helm of the Clemson program as the No. 9 Tigers (9-2) defeated the UNCW Seahawks (7-2-1) in a 4-1 victory Friday night at Historic Riggs Field.
As a head coach, Noonan holds a 424-209-89 career record. His 424 victories sit fourth amongst active Division I coaches and No. 1 amongst active ACC head coaches. He accomplished the 200 win milestone at Clemson on Alumni Night in front of members of the 2001 ACC Championship team and players from his 2021 National Championship squad. During his tenure at Clemson, Noonan has led the Tigers to two national championships (2021 and 2023), three College Cup appearances, five Elite Eight runs and captured three ACC tournament championships (2014, 2020 and 2023) and two regular season titles (2019 and 2023).
In a game that had Clemson outshooting UNCW, 18-7, the Tigers sealed the win with a dominant second half performance. While the Tigers scored three goals in the second half, Clemson’s defense limited the Seahawks to only two shots in the final 45 minutes of play. Offensively, Alessio Andreottola not only led the Tigers with opportunities but scored his first collegiate goal. On the night, he racked up one goal and two assists over the course of the final 45’.
The Seahawks took an early 1-0 lead after being awarded a penalty kick 11’ into the match.
However, the Tigers took no time to respond, charging down the field to secure a corner one minute later. After Ransford Gyan served the ball into the box, Lukas Magnason rattled off a shot that was deflected to allow Floki Stephensen to convert on the opportunity and even the match. Stephenson has now scored in back-to-back games with both being assisted by Magnason.
Clemson and UNCW remained knotted for the rest of the first half although both teams had several looks on net. The Tigers outshot the Seahawks 8-5 in the first 45’, but returned in the second half with an offensive surge.
Andreottola opened up the scoring in the second half after slipping a ball past the Seahawk’s goalkeeper off a feed from Remi Okunlola in the 55’. Andreottola's goal gave Clemson its first lead of the game and lit a fire amongst the Tigers. Andreottola stayed on the attack offensively as he found Okunlola coursing down the sideline who was able to cut the ball into Duncan Wilson in the box. Wilson helped extend the Tigers’ lead to 3-1 by poking the ball into the goal in the 67’.
The Tigers utilized the momentum to attack the net just two minutes later as Gyan kicked a one-time into UNCW’s goal off an assist from Andreottola, sealing Clemson’s ninth win of the season with a score of 4-1.
Up Next
The Tigers return to Historic Riggs Field on Tuesday Oct. 6 for the last match of a four-match homestand to face off with Georgia Southern. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on ACCNX.