The Clemson Men’s Soccer Team looked strong on Friday, Oct. 16 against the Louisville Cardinals as their offense put up three goals, and worked tirelessly to prevent the Cardinals from scoring. The 10-2-1 Tigers took the momentum of their latest win against No. 13 Stanford to Riggs Field, and kicked off the game with a strong burst of energy, never letting their guard down long enough for Louisville, who holds a 10-1-2 record, to make a move.
Offensive Attack
From the blow of the first whistle, the Tigers brought a harsh offensive determination that Louisville could not beat. The team outshot the Cardinals 9 to 5 in the first half, and junior Ransford Gyan scored his eleventh goal of the season at the 31’. Gyan, assisted by forward Jake Basinet, managed to dribble past the Cardinal defenders, and sail one from the right side of the field into the left corner of the net. Gyan has been a key player for the Tigers this season, with a .421 shot on goal percentage and scoring in five of the last six games. The half ended with the Tigers up 1-0, with Louisville scrambling to find a way to tie up the game.
But the offensive prowl of the Tigers didn’t stop with just one goal. At the 60’, a pass from sophomore Xander Sevian to midfielder Malick Daouda led to another point for Clemson as Daouda ripped one quickly into the left side of the net. That goal marked Daouda’s third of the season, and the transfer from Penn State gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead.
Not even five minutes later, freshmen Basinet had a moment he will likely never forget. As Sevian cut the ball across the Cardinal’s goal and into the air, Basinet headed it past the defender and into the net, scoring for the first time in his college career. The California native had played in eight games this season, but it was not until this match, against a nationally ranked opponent, that Basinet had both an assist and a goal.
With that very special play, the Tigers led the Cardinals 3-0 and held onto that score for the next 25 minutes of playing time. While Louisville made a couple more attempts at goal, Clemson still outshot them 7 to 2 in the second half, and the Cardinals left Doug Kingsmore Stadium defeated.
Red Card Gave Clemson the Upper Hand
One advantage Clemson had was that after the 43’, Louisville defender Noah De Blasis received a red card following increased Clemson defensive pressure. This forced the Cardinals to play the remainder of the game a player short. Clemson certainly took advantage of the situation, scoring two goals on the Cardinals after the red card was issued.
The Clemson defense also impressed on Friday, with goalkeeper Giazka Garcia making two saves, and never letting Louisville score. The Tigers will continue to depend on their defensive capabilities as they prepare for their next matchup against Virginia Tech on Sunday, Oct 25. That game will be held in Blacksburg Virginia, and the Tigers hope that with another ACC win, they can climb past SMU to the top of the ACC standings. The matchup against Virginia Tech will be the final away game of the regular season, and the Tigers will begin looking ahead to postseason play.
