Match Central
CLEMSON, S.C. — The top-ranked Clemson men’s soccer team (9-2-1) will travel to Blacksburg, Va., to face No. 21 Virginia Tech (4-3-2) at Thompson Field at 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 13. No. 1 Clemson enters the match following a 3-1 victory over Syracuse on March 7, giving the program its first-ever win in March.
The Tigers enter Saturday’s match with an 8-3-5 record against the Hokies. Neither side has an advantage in the series when matches are played at Thompson Field, as the series record stands even at 2-2-3. Across the last ten meetings, Clemson holds a 6-1-3 record, including an unbeaten streak that now stands at nine consecutive matches. Head coach Mike Noonan will enter Saturday’s match with a 5-0-3 record against the Hokies.
The two sides last met in Durham, N.C., on Nov. 15, 2020, for the opening quarterfinal match of the ACC Tournament. In the match, Kimarni Smith — the eventual No. 4 pick in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft and recent signee for D.C. United — scored the second hat-trick in tournament history and became the first player to record seven points in a single tournament match. Smith’s three goals came in the opening 45 minutes of play, while the senior forward contributed the first assist on James Brighton’s second-half goal. Clemson’s four goals in the match were the most the program has ever scored in a game against Virginia Tech.
Clemson enters Saturday’s contest as the No. 1 team in the nation for the third time this season. Clemson first topped the rankings following the ACC Tournament, which saw then-No. 2 Clemson defeat then-No. 1 Pittsburgh, 2-1, to capture the program’s 15th ACC Championship. In United Soccer Coaches’ first Top 25 Spring Rankings on March 2, Clemson received 16 of 26 first-place votes, and on March 9, Clemson remained atop the poll with 23 of 26 first-place votes. Clemson holds a 54-10-3 record when entering a match ranked No. 1.
Saturday’s match will be broadcast live on ACCNX starting at 5 p.m. and can be accessed here. Fans can also follow along with the match via live stats.
Be sure to follow @ClemsonMSoccer on Twitter for all of the most up-to-date information regarding Clemson men’s soccer!
