Clemson Match Notes || Match Central
CLEMSON, S.C. — No. 1 Clemson (8-2-1) is set to welcome Syracuse (1-4-3) to Historic Riggs Field on March 7 for the first match of the Tigers’ spring campaign. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m., while the match will be broadcast on ACCNX.
Top-ranked Clemson returns to play after winning the 2020 ACC Tournament on Nov. 22 by defeating then-No. 1 Pittsburgh, 2-1. The victory secured Clemson its 15th ACC Championship and fourth ACC Tournament title, along with it serving as the 10th time in program history that Clemson defeated the nation’s No. 1 team.
Sunday’s match will be the 12th meeting between the Tigers and Orange, with Clemson leading the series, 4-3-4. Clemson took the series lead thanks to a 7-4 victory over Syracuse when the two teams last clashed on Oct. 19, 2019. The two sides first met on Nov. 1, 2013, and have played each season since. The most notable match in the series came on Dec. 11, 2015, when Clemson defeated Syracuse in penalty kicks, 4-1, during the semifinals of the 2015 College Cup.
Clemson will enter Sunday’s contest ranked No. 1 in the country, after United Soccer Coaches released their first spring rankings earlier this week. Clemson is now ranked atop the national Top 25 poll for the 33rd week in program history. In matches where Clemson is ranked No. 1, the Tigers hold a record of 53-10-3, while going 38-3-1 in those matches played at home.
Sunday will be the first opportunity for Clemson’s two newest players to showcase their skill, as freshmen Hamady Diop and Ousmane Sylla represent Clemson for the first time in their respective careers. Diop and Sylla, both natives of Dakar, Senegal, joined the Tigers in January after signing with the program as part of the Tigers’ 2020 recruiting class.
The spring season will continue the fall campaign, meaning that Clemson’s record, stats, and disciplinary records will be carried over into the spring. The two changes from the fall are that ACC records have been reset while also shifting back to the traditional Atlantic and Coastal divisions. This change comes about as Boston College is set to resume play after not playing during the fall.
For all of the most up-to-date information regarding Clemson men’s soccer, be sure to reference clemsontigers.com and follow @ClemsonMSoccer on Twitter.
The 2021 spring season will see Historic Riggs Field operate under the same guidelines enforced during the fall. We ask that all fans please adhere to the following safety protocols put in place to ensure the well-being of all fans and participants.
