BOX SCORE
OMAHA, Neb. – The No. 11 Clemson men’s soccer team sustained a 2-0 defeat by the Creighton Bluejays in the 2018 season opener on Friday evening at Morrison Stadium. With the loss, the Tigers fell to 0-1-0, while the Bluejays improved to 1-0-0.
Creighton scored each of its two goals in the first half, and both of the goals came in the latter portion of the first 45 minutes. The Bluejays first found the back of the net on a Ziyad Fares shot in a shuffle just seven seconds after a Jonny Sutherland save in the 37th minute. Five minutes later, Anthony Macchione fired a laser from short range in the left side of the box that got past an outstretched Sutherland to double the Creighton lead.
A third Creighton goal was ruled offsides in the 62nd minute, and the Tigers had the momentum out of the break, limiting the Bluejays to just three shots in the second half. One of Clemson’s best scoring opportunities of the match came in the 75th minute, when Adrian Nuñez found Chris Matlashewski with a cross from the right side into the box, but the freshman’s ensuing shot went just high.
“I was proud of the response in the second half,” said head coach Mike Noonan. “I thought that it was boys to men in the first half. We didn’t pass the ball very well. You have to give Creighton a lot of credit. Technically, tactically, physically, they deserved the win. We’ll regroup and get ready for Sunday.”
The Tigers turn around to face the Omaha Mavericks on Sunday afternoon in the first-ever meeting between the two teams. The match is set for 2 p.m. EST and 1 p.m. CT.
For complete coverage of the Clemson men’s soccer team, follow @ClemsonMSoccer on Twitter and Instagram, and @ClemsonMensSocceron Facebook.
Photo by A.J. Olnes, Creightonian.
