Historic Riggs Field has held more than its fair share of games. It’s seen football, baseball and soccer. It’s seen ACC Championships and national championships. It’s seen triumph and defeat.
However, Historic Riggs Field had never seen a game like this.
Active since 2017, Clemson University Paralympic Soccer, or CUPS, played its first-ever Paralympic soccer match on Saturday against CP Soccer All-Stars. Riggs was filled with fans to mark such a monumental occasion; whether personally affected or not, watching the players on the field inspired crowds in attendance.
Unlike the usual games at Historic Riggs Field, Paralympic soccer operates under altered rules. The game consists of two 30-minute halves of seven-on-seven soccer on a smaller field. Players roll the ball underhanded as an alternative to throw-ins. Additionally, if a ball hits a CP-impacted player’s hand in a neutral position, there is no penalty for a handball.
These rules better match the body function of players with cerebral palsy. One can also play for the team if they have suffered a stroke or any traumatic brain injury.
Although a few differences exist, they are still playing the same game.
A brief honorary ceremony was held at the beginning, and a jersey was given to men’s soccer head coach Mike Noonan and women’s head coach Eddie Radwanski, who attended the matchup. Many from the men’s soccer, women’s soccer and women’s lacrosse teams were in attendance for their support.
Both teams took the field with excitement from the crowd and players alike. Kickoff was welcomed by a roaring crowd in the stands.
“This is my first competitive soccer game in four years,” Max Alberici, the starting goalkeeper and voted fan-favorite of the match, said. “I didn’t expect 250 people to show up.”
Both sides played fundamental, possession-focused soccer, striking hard passes and switching fields when necessary.
Defensively, the CP Soccer All-Stars played better than reflected by the score, with their goalkeeper making a handful of incredible diving saves throughout the game, including grabbing a sure goal with one hand midway through the first half.
With less than eight minutes left in the half, striker Shea Hammond delivered a beautiful corner into the middle of the box, but two consecutive saves from close range somehow kept the ball out of the back of the net.
Gabriel Hull became the first player to find the back of the net. Nine minutes into the game, Hull received a give-and-go on the left side of the box and snuck a shot into the bottom corner to give CUPS an early lead, one they would not give up the whole game.
Captain Shea Hammond almost made it a two-goal difference soon after, narrowly missing on a free kick that ricocheted off the post. Hammond would score a hat trick in the matchup, with all three of his goals coming in the second half.
CUPS would go into halftime with a 2-0 lead after Chile Chitulangoma stole a ball from the defender in the box, scoring with under a minute left.
Hammond increased the advantage to three goals early in the next half with a left-footed strike from inside the box, but the CP Soccer All-Stars responded a minute and a half later, finding the top left corner on a shot from just outside the box.
The game remained 3-1 until Hammond got his second and third goals of the matchup within a minute of each other. Hammond’s goals came on a long shot outside 18 yards and a closer finish inside the box. Hammond ended up being voted player of the game.
Head coach Felipe Tobar had nothing but praise for his team captain following the game.
“It’s not difficult to coach a player like Shea because, like myself, he loves winning. He is desperate to win,” Tobar said. “I made him the captain because he sets the example inside and outside of the field.”
Given their growing momentum, CUPS found the back of the net a few more times in the matchup and went on to win the matchup 6-1 on a historic day at the Historic Riggs Field.
The play on the field that day was much more than just a normal soccer match. A revolutionary accomplishment was on display by both sides on the Clemson campus.
“It’s the name of the field; it’s historic,” Hammond said. “I have been a part of Clemson for five years, and to finally play on this field it’s historic. It’s indescribable.”
Hammond was the first undergraduate to join the program after its inception in 2017. At that time, the team consisted of just three players—a far cry from a full team. Since then, the organization has grown tremendously with hopes to continue expanding.
One thing is clear: CUPS serves as an inspiration to many. Not only was this game a huge step for Clemson and CUPS — it was a step for Paralympic sports.
