No. 14 Clemson Locks Up Share of Atlantic Division, Shifts Focus to ACC Tournament

CLEMSON, S.C. – After winning a share of the ACC’s Atlantic Division title and securing the fourth seed in the ACC Tournament, the No. 14 Clemson men’s soccer team shifts its focus to ACC Quarterfinal opponent No. 18 Wake Forest, the tournament’s fifth seed and a team the Tigers beat 3-1 on Sept. 26 earlier this season.

“It’s a big deal,” head coach Mike Noonan said of the division title. “Whenever you can win something that’s tangible its important, particularly as we continue to build this program back into a national contender.”

A 2-0 win over visiting NC State last Friday night, Oct. 31, capped off a successful regular season for the Tigers. Clemson finished with a 10-6-1 overall record and a 5-2-1 record in the ACC. 

More notes from the 2014 regular season: 

• Clemson shares the Atlantic Division title with No. 1 Syracuse. Both teams finished with a 5-2-1 record in ACC play. 
• Clemson is ranked 12th nationally in the latest RPI poll, released yesterday by the NCAA.
• The Tigers are ranked in all three major national polls this week. Clemson comes in at 14th in TopDrawerSoccer.com’s poll, 17th in Soccer America and 20th in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. (NSCAA)
• In total, nine of Clemson’s opponents during the regular season are nationally ranked this week, headlined by Syracuse (No. 1 in the NSCAA) and North Carolina (No. 2 in Soccer America)
• Clemson finished the regular season on a six match unbeaten streak. 
• This is the third consecutive year in which Clemson has secured the fourth seed in the ACC Tournament and, therefore, hosted a quarterfinal match. Clemson is one of only two teams in the ACC to accomplish that feat.
• This is the second consecutive season in which Clemson has won at least 10 matches during the regular season and five matches in ACC play. 
• Clemson is one of only five teams in the ACC this season to win at least 10 matches in the regular season.
• Senior defender and team captain Phanuel Kavita has been recognized nationally throughout the season. Most recently, Kavita was named College Sports Madness’ National and ACC Defender of the Week. Kavita was also named to College Soccer News’ National Team of the Week this week. 
• Redshirt junior forward Kyle Murphy was named ACC Player of the Week for the week of Sept. 16 earlier this season. 

Clemson and Wake Forest will meet at Historic Riggs Field on Sunday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. in the ACC Tournament Quarterfinals. The winner moves on to the tournament semifinals in Cary, N.C. Tickets to Sunday’s match are available for purchase online via the link above or at the gate before the game.