After a record-setting 2023 season, the Clemson women’s soccer team is gearing up for another strong year and looking to rewrite history after a heartbreaking loss to top-ranked Florida State in the semifinals of the Women’s College Cup.
Head coach Eddie Radwanski, fresh off signing a contract extension through 2028, must fill several key lineup gaps for a chance at returning to the College Cup. The Tigers lost four pivotal starters — Hal Hershfelt, Makenna Morris, Halle Mackiewicz and Caroline Conti — who are now playing in the NWSL.
Ranked No. 5 in ACC preseason polls, the Tigers face a challenging road back to a top seed in the NCAA tournament. Their schedule features five preseason top 25 teams, including a mid-September clash with the Seminoles that’s sure to bring up memories of hung heads and defeat for Clemson. Florida State got the better of the Tigers three times last year; first in the regular season, then in the ACC Championship and finally in the championship semifinals to finish their season.
To navigate this tough schedule, the Tigers will rely on their sole returning graduate student, forward Megan Bornkamp, along with midfielder Dani Davis, a standout from last year’s ACC All-Freshman team.
The team returns six seniors — Renee Lyles, Sydney Minarik, Mackenzie Duff, Ella Hauser, Layne St. George and Ally Lynch — who will need to step up and fill the void left by last season’s stars.
To further boost his roster, Radwanski made waves in the transfer portal this offseason. He recruited graduates Kam Pickett (Pepperdine) and Jordan Thompson (College of Charleston), along with redshirt sophomore Nona Reason (North Carolina) and sophomore Christian Brathwaite (Georgia).
Radwanski also welcomed six freshman recruits: Kendall Bodak, Allie Serlenga, Ella Johnson, Emilia Eriksen, Anna Rydin and Anna Castenfelt.
After a tough 4-0 loss to Auburn on the road to open the season, the team found its rhythm to secure wins in its first two home games. They defeated High Point by a score of 2-0 and West Virginia by 3-0, showing a strong defensive line to keep the opponent’s scoring low.
Clemson will travel to Greenville next to take on Furman on Thursday at 7 p.m.
