Clemson (2-0-0, 1-0-0) 🆚 Virginia (1-0-1, 0-0-1)
📍 Historic Riggs Field – Clemson, S.C.
⚽⏰ Kickoff Time – 3:00 p.m.
📊 Live Stats
📺 ACCN
📱💻 @ClemsonWSoccer
Game Notes
The Clemson women’s soccer team (2-0-0, 1-0-0) are back for the final match of their home-opening weekend as they welcome the Virginia Cavaliers (1-0-1, 0-0-1) to Historic Riggs Field for a 3 pm kickoff.
The game will be broadcasted on ACC Network with Lori Lindsey and Jenn Hildreth on the call.
The Tigers will have an opening in the schedule following the match against Virginia as their next round of competition will come on the road as they face North Carolina and Duke on Oct. 1 and Oct. 4, respectively. The game against North Carolina will be covered on RSN while the match against the Blue Devils will be on ACC Network.
Match Information
The match on Sunday will be exactly two years to the date of the last time the two sides faced off as the Tigers took the 1-0 decider over the No. 4 Cavaliers at Historic Riggs Field.
How It Was Decided
Speckmaier went one-on-one with a Cavalier defender near the end line, making a move that was deflected out of bounds, setting up the Tigers’ third corner kick of the match. Staab took the corner on the far side of the field, sending the ball into the box and finding the head of Speckmaier, who redirected the ball right into the back of the net.
Of Note
The win over No. 4 Virginia was Clemson’s first upset over a top-five team in just over three years, as the Tigers defeated No. 5 Notre Dame on Sept. 19, 2015. The score of that game was also 1-0, and the contest was also played at home at Historic Riggs Field.
The Tigers kept Virginia off the scoreboard for the first time during the 2018 campaign. In fact, it was the first time the Cavaliers were held scoreless since Nov. 3, 2017, a 1-0 loss to No. 2 Duke in the ACC Semifinals. Virginia was averaging 3.14 goals per game entering the match.
Side-by-side, Clemson and Virginia are nearly identical in every statistical category coming into Sunday’s match. In fact, Clemson has attempted 36 shots and landed 18 on target, scoring on seven across their first two games while Virginia has attempted 37 shots with 17 on target and scoring on four of those attempts.
With the Tigers holding their first two opponents scoreless, it will be crucial for the Tiger defense which has been occupied by Makenna Morris, Harper White, Sydney Dawson, and Devi Dudley, to remain stout against the highly-talented Cavalier offense. Keeping that in mind, the Tigers have solidified quite the offense themselves to offset the Virginia attack and carry some top talent in the midfield with Hal Hershfelt, Megan Bornkamp, Caroline Conti, and Kimber Haley.
After tallying two goals and two assists in the 2019 season, sophomore Caroline Conti doubled her career total, netting a career-high two goals against Virginia Tech.
Both of Conti’s goals on Thursday evening came from within the goalline as her first came courtesy of a deflected shot from Megan Bornkamp which was shuffled away by the Virginia Tech goalkeeper onto Conti’s foot and into the far side of the net. With under a minute to play in the match and with the Tigers already holding a 2-0 lead thanks to a Virginia Tech own goal, Conti was able to manage a ball rolling across the crossbar before a 180 -degree shot went near-side.
With just two regular-season games under her belt as a Tiger, junior transfer Hensley Hancuff has found her home within the box for the Clemson women’s soccer team.
Playing and starting in both of Clemson’s matches thus far in 2020, Hancuff has tallied 4 saves, a solo shutout, and a combined shutout with sophomore Hannah McLaughlin across her 166 minutes.
Although minimally tested across the first two bouts of competition, Hancuff has been another piece to the puzzle of the backline.
Those fans wishing to attend matches in person must wear a face covering at all times unless eating or drinking. All matches are free for fans wishing to attend and all points of entry to Historic Riggs Field will be available. A capacity of 1,000 spectators will be enforced at all home matches. Please refrain from coming to any Clemson sporting event if you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of the coronavirus.
