The Clemson Tigers men’s soccer team pushed the pace early on Sunday night when they hosted the USC Upstate Spartans at Historic Riggs Field. Defeating the Spartans 5-0, Clemson took control of the game early on and did not look back.
The Tigers were on the attack in the first period, scoring three goals to take a demanding lead. They scored twice in the first twenty minutes of the game. Junior forward Mohamed Seye headed a pass in from senior midfielder Callum Johnson, finessing the goal just under the reach of Spartans junior goalie Luca Bulfon at 13:28.
The Tigers did not waste any time scoring their second goal, as junior defender Oskar Agren helped Clemson’s cause just four minutes later with an easy goal. USC Upstate visibly showed their frustration with nine fouls in the first period alone, and the game quickly became very physical. Junior Defender Isaiah Reid joined his fellow Junior teammates with a header goal just before halftime, burying one into the bottom of the net to make matters worse for the Spartans.
Clemson continued to show off in the second period, dominating the Spartans with flashy footwork. The Tigers’ defense stood out all game. Clemson goalie George Marx put on a defensive clinic in the goal box, making several athletic saves to keep the Spartans out of the back of the net. Marx received an emphatic round of applause from the fans when he came off the field late in the game.
USC Upstate seemingly never had the numbers to get anything going offensively. Clemson continued their offensive tear by adding two more goals from Reid and Gomez in the second period. The Spartans continued to display their physicality, and they ultimately received three cautions from the referees by the game’s conclusion.
The Clemson Tigers look to build on Sunday night’s win as they host the University of South Carolina on Friday, Sept. 3.