In the season’s second United Soccer Coaches poll, the Clemson United Tigers were voted the No. 2 team in the nation. The Tigers fell from the No. 1 spot after a draw against South Carolina, now finding themselves with a 1-0-1 record after their first two games.
After reaching the mountaintop, it’s easy to topple back down if a team gets too complacent. After all, two national championships in three years are hard to keep up — but not for head coach Mike Noonan and his squad.
With an emphasis on teamwork and brotherhood, Noonan has successfully led the Tigers since 2014 and will remain with them through at least 2030.
Led by Alex Meinhard and Virginia Tech transfer Misei Yoshizawa, who have each scored two of the Tigers’ four total goals this season, Clemson’s hard-hitting offense shows the potential to carry on the legacy of last season’s national champions.
Although the Tigers lost several important playmakers, this new squad already proves they are contenders to go all the way. Clemson United maintained majority possession of the ball in both matchups thus far, with 55% against Penn State and 51% against South Carolina, demonstrating their intertwined offense and defense.
The Tigers kicked off the 2024 Palmetto Series with the first match against South Carolina of any varsity team, and the intensity of the rivalry lent itself to the red cards, fouls and a tied result.
Clemson returns home with a highly anticipated conference-opening matchup against No. 13 Stanford (3-1). Stanford is coming off of a dominant performance where they took down Saint Mary’s by a score of 4-1, scoring three of their four goals in the first half.
This matchup will be Clemson’s first encounter with the Stanford Cardinals as conference opponents. Stanford was formerly in the Pac-12 until the recent realignments over the offseason moved them to the ACC.
Last December, the Tigers defeated the Cardinals 2-0 at Historic Riggs Field to advance to the College Cup. Now, the West Coast-based team will be looking to avenge last season’s loss and perhaps start a fresh conference rivalry.
The Tigers look to continue their dominance to defend their 2023 title and establish a true dynasty in college soccer. Clemson United can control their destiny, and a win over a conference opponent in the top 15 would undoubtedly create the early momentum needed in the beginning stages of the season.
