William Stehn
Clemson United will look for its third national championship in five years under Mike Noonan in 2025.
Fall may bring football to Clemson, but the Tigers’ men’s soccer team has quietly been the school’s most successful program in recent years.
Led by head coach Mike Noonan, Clemson has claimed two national titles in the last four seasons and made six straight NCAA tournament appearances, aiming for a seventh this year.
Last season ended in disappointment with a third-round NCAA tournament loss to Wake Forest on a golden goal. The Tigers will face this season without several key contributors.
Captain Adam Lundegard, who anchored the back line, graduated, along with midfielder Joran Gerbet, a 2024 first-team All-American, MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist, ACC Midfielder of the Year and scoring leader, Alex Meinhard. Forward Tyler Trimnal transferred to South Carolina.
Gerbet, Meinhard and Trimnal led the team in scoring last season, leaving plenty of production to replace.
Even with those departures, Clemson enters the season as the ACC favorite for the fourth straight year, according to a vote of the league’s 15 head coaches. The Tigers also earned a No. 9 preseason ranking from the United Soccer Coaches Poll.
The ACC is a tough conference, however. Nine of its 15 teams made the NCAA tournament last season, and ACC programs won three of the last four national championships.
Clemson’s schedule reflects that challenge, with seven preseason top-25 opponents — almost half of their games. The Tigers will rely on returning talent to step up and new additions to quickly meet that level of competition.
Midfielder Ransford Gyan had a dazzling first season at Clemson, turning heads across the conference and earning ACC Freshman of the Year honors along with a spot on the All-Conference Second Team.
Standing at 5-foot-3, Gyan is quick on the ball and creative in the attack. Fellow Ghana native Wahabu Musah will join him as a sophomore forward who scored six goals last season and became a regular starter in the second half of the year.
The midfield is further strengthened by transfer Misei Yoshizawa, who was a spark whenever he came into games last season. Yoshizawa is expected to take on a larger role this year.
Nathan Richmond could make a real difference in the midfield. He was a key contributor to Clemson’s 2023 national championship team, but missed most of 2024 due to injury. If healthy, he should provide veteran leadership in the young midfield.
On top of that, Clemson welcomes several highly-rated freshmen who add depth to the roster. While they aren’t expected to carry the team alone, this class has the talent to contribute right away. It’s hard to predict which newcomer will step up, but expect at least one of the seven signees to make an immediate impact.
The back line will see some shifts as well. Sophomore Lukas Magnason takes over as the defensive leader after starting 19 games as a freshman. At 6-foot-2, he provides an aerial presence to fill the gap left by Lundegard.
Veteran defenders Remi Okunlola and Arthur Duquenne add experience, helping stabilize a defense that was inconsistent at times last season.
The biggest return for the Tigers could be senior goalkeeper Joseph Andema. Last season, he started 16 games and posted a 1.16 goals-against average, allowing 17 goals before a season-ending leg injury against Virginia Tech just before the postseason.
Andema was a standout in 2023, conceding only one goal during Clemson’s national championship run and earning NCAA All-Tournament Team honors.
While it’s a roster that will be littered with new pieces, Clemson enters the season ready to test itself against top competition.
The Tigers will rely on much of that depth as they open on the road on Aug. 21 against preseason No. 11 Indiana. It’s a match that will provide an early measure of where Clemson stands nationally, but a tough opener could help set the tone for the Tigers’ postseason ambitions.
Just a few days later, on Aug. 26, Clemson hosts its home opener against in-state rival South Carolina at Historic Riggs Field.
While the Gamecocks haven’t been a national powerhouse recently, the Palmetto Series is always one of the most competitive matchups of the year.
Clemson enters the game with a 10-season unbeaten streak against South Carolina, giving fans every reason to pack the stands and watch the Tigers defend their home turf as they kick off their 2025 campaign with a bang.