Tigers Host Blue Devils for ACC Matchup

Match Central

CLEMSON, S.C. — The Clemson men’s soccer team (3-1, 1-1 ACC) will welcome the Duke Blue Devils (2-2, 2-1 ACC) on Friday, Oct. 16 to Historic Riggs Field for the Tigers’ third ACC match of the season. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ACCN. The match will serve as the 59th meeting in series history. 

The series between Clemson and Duke dates back to Dec. 1, 1939, when the two sides played for the first time in Durham, N.C. Clemson is 27-26-5 all-time against Duke. The Tigers have won the last four matches in the series. Friday’s match will be the 16th time the two sides play in October, with Clemson holding a 9-6 series lead through the first 15 matches. 

Head coaches Mike Noonan and John Kerr will face one another for the 19th time on Friday night. The two first met in the Ivy League while Noonan was leading Brown and Kerr was in his rookie season at the helm of Harvard’s program. Through their first 18 meetings, Noonan holds an 11-6-1 record against Kerr’s teams. 

The last time the two sides met was at Historic Riggs Field on Sept. 20, 2019, as the Tigers earned a 3-1 victory in what was a match between top-15 squads. James Brighton, Grayson Barber and Kimarni Smith scored Clemson’s three goals, while George Marks played a full match in net. Clemson logged 22 shots and forced Duke’s Will Pulisic to make 11 saves. 

The Tigers will take the field on Friday after earning their ninth all-time victory against a top-ranked opponent this past Tuesday. On Oct. 13, Clemson defeated No. 1 Wake Forest at home by a final score of 2-1. Smith led the team’s offensive effort by scoring the team’s first goal and contributing the assist for Luis Felipe Fernandez-Salvador’s game-winner in the 80th minute. The victory was Mike Noonan’s second against a top-ranked opponent in his 11 seasons leading Clemson. 

As a team, Clemson currently ranks within the top-five nationally of eight categories, while also having six individuals rank within the top-five of five individual categories. The Tigers are ranked atop the nation in penalty kick conversion rate (1.000) and shots per game (18). Callum Johnson has converted the Tigers’ lone penalty kick this season.

Be sure to follow @ClemsonMSoccer on Twitter for all of the most up-to-date information regarding Clemson men’s soccer.

Historic Riggs Field Operations

When the Tigers take to Historic Riggs Field this season, one of the most revered venues in all of college soccer will have a new feel to it. 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.

• Please refrain from coming to any Clemson sporting event if you feel sick or are experiencing symptoms of the coronavirus.
• A capacity of 1,000 spectators will be enforced at Historic Riggs Field. Patrons must wear a face covering at all times unless eating or drinking. 
• There will be no formal ticketing for the 2020 season. All seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. All points of entry to Historic Riggs Field will be available.
• Individuals must sit in a chairback and are not permitted to move the chairback at any point in the match.
• There will be no access to the field permitted prior to, during, or after any match. 
• Seats will be available in pods of four with a six-foot radius around each pod. Please refrain from sitting in groups larger than four.
• The first three rows of seats have been blocked off to ensure safety for fans and participants. Please do not sit, or attempt to enter, this area of the stands.
• Drinks and pre-packaged snacks will be available at the outdoor concession stand.
• Restrooms will be available for all fans. Hand sanitizers will also be strategically placed around the facility.