CLEMSON, S.C. – After receiving the 14-seed and a First Round bye in this year’s NCAA Tournament, the Clemson women’s soccer team (12-4-0) opens up its postseason slate with a Second Round match against Rutgers (9-3-3). The match is set to kickoff from Eakes Athletics Complex at Campbell University on April 30 at 7 p.m. with live broadcasting available on ESPN3.
The Second Round match will be the first all-time meeting between the Tigers and Scarlet Knights. In the most recent United Soccer Coaches poll released on April 20, Clemson garnered the No. 6 national ranking for the second-straight week as Rutgers opened the postseason as the second team receiving votes.
The Scarlet Knights enter the Second Round meeting following a 1-0 win over Southeastern Louisiana on Tuesday night. Rutgers’ offensive leader Amirah Ali netted the lone goal in the 87th minute of the match, picking up a rebound on Allison Lowrey’s initial shot. The Scarlet Knights outshot the Lions 20-2 in the match. Ali, who has generated seven of Rutgers’ 17 goals this season, has been dubbed a Senior Class Award Finalist and MAC Hermann Trophy candidate while recently being selected 22nd overall by the Portland Thorns FC in the 2021 NWSL Draft held back in January.
Clemson has shared the offensive production this season with 13 separate players who have etched their name onto the scoresheet at least once, eight of which have found the back of the net. Of the eight goal scorers, the Tigers’ leading trio of Megan Bornkamp, Caroline Conti, and Maliah Morris have combined for 20 goals and eight assists, bringing their point total to 48. As a team, the Tigers have recorded 91 points across their 16 games played.
Of Rutgers’ 15 games this season, including the First Round match, 11 of them have been decided by a one-goal margin. This season the Scarlet Knights have found the back of the net 17 teams in comparison to Clemson’s 31 – the Tigers have scored two or more goals in 10 out of their 16 games this year leading up to the postseason while holding their opponents to just 12 goals.
Friday’s match will be the 21st NCAA Tournament appearance for the Clemson squad and the seventh consecutive trip to the postseason. The winner of the Second Round match between Clemson and Rutgers will advance to the Sweet Sixteen on May 5 against the winner of the UCLA/Iowa match.
