William & Mary Downs Clemson

Sept. 2, 2005

Williamsburg, VA – Britten Meyer and Elizabeth Jobe both scored their first goals of the season Friday night for Clemson, but it was not enough to offset a hat trick by William & Mary freshman Claire Zimmeck, sending William & Mary to a 3-2 victory over the Tigers in Williamsburg, VA. Clemson fell to 2-1 with the loss, while William & Mary improved to 2-0-1. The contest was the second game of the William & Mary Invitational. The Tigers meet Virginia Commonwealth on Sunday at noon.

Clemson had opened the season with convincing victories over UT Chattanooga and Kennesaw State, and had a2-1 lead at halftime of Friday night’s match. But Zimmeck scored two goals in the last 25 minutes, including the game winner with just 3:46 remaining to win the game.

Zimmeck became just the second opponent in Clemson women’s soccer history to score a half trick against the Tigers. The only other player to do it was Robin Confer of North Carolina, who scored three goals against Clemson in a game in 1997.

The Tigers, which entered the match ranked 30th in the nation and seventh in the Southeast Region by Soccer Buzz, drew first blood in the 28th minute as Britten Meyer ripped a shot from 20 yards out to give Clemson the early lead. It was her first goal of the season and the second of the career for the junior from Greenville, SC.

The lead was short lived however, as Zimmeck gained the equalizer one minute later, firing home a blast from the top of the 18-yard box to knot the match at one.

Clemson regained the lead in the 36th minute as Elizabeth Jobe gathered a loose ball in Tribe territory, dribbled to the top of the box and fired home a blast to give Clemson a 2-1 lead. It was also the first goal of the year for Jobe and just the third of her career. Jobe is a sophomore from Roswell, GA who has started every game of her two-year career.

That 2-1 Clemson lead stood until the 66th minute when Zimmeck tied the match at two. Junior forward Katie Hogwood (Reston, VA) lifted a high pass to the six-yard box, right to Mary MacKenzie Grier (Midlothian, VA), who headed the ball forward to Zimmeck all alone at the goal mouth, and she sent in with a header to tie the match at two.

With four minutes left, Zimmeck again found the back of the net, as she took a long pass just inside Tiger territory, beat a defender and was left with a one-on-one with goalkeeper Lauren Johnston. Johnston came out to challenge Zimmeck, who dribbled around her, beat a trailing Tiger defender, spun around and fired home the game winner.

Clemson out-shot the Tribe 9-8 and held a 4-1 advantage in corner kicks.

Scoring Summary

Clemson 27:39 Britten Meyer (unassisted)

W&M 28:17 Claire Zimmeck (unassisted)

Clemson 35:50 Elizabeth Jobe (unassisted)

W&M 65:57 Claire Zimmeck (Mary MacKenzie Grier, Katie Hogwood)

W&M 86:16 Claire Zimmeck (unassisted)

Shots: Clemson 9, William and Mary 8.

Corner Kicks: Clemson 4, W&M 1.

Penalty Kicks: None.

Fouls: Clemson 16, W&M 13

Offsides: W&M 2, Clemson 1