Box Score CLEMSON, S.C. – Two well executed goals in the game's opening half carried Clemson (3-1 overall) to a 2-0 victory over Villanova here at Riggs Field on a steamy 88 degree night Monday. The loss snapped Villanova's three game winning streak to open the campaign (3-1 overall).
Villanova now sets its sights on Friday night's big matchup with Penn State at Talen Energy Stadium.
The Tigers, riding a two game winning streak of their own after dropping a season opener to Creighton, charged out of the gate and pushed the tempo in the early going. The pressure was thwarted by the Wildcats before the Tigers' used sharp passing to build a lead.
"It was hot out and I thought Clemson did a good job early of putting us on our heels," said Wildcats head coach Tom Carlin. "With their speed of play they were able to hurt us. But we responded effectively in the second half and had our own combinations working. We just weren't able to finish."
The game's first big play was a huge stop by redshirt freshman goalkeeper Carson Williams (Plano, Tex.) on Clemson's Grayson Barber. Barber broke in on the left side at point blank range but Williams charged towards him and deflected his bid for the opening goal over the end line.
A boot off the foot by senior Zach Zandi – named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week earlier in the day – in the 10th minute was a quality early chance for the Wildcats.
However, it was a Tigers' counterattack that generated the night's first goal. Clemson's Chris Matlashewski dribbled in along the right side and sent a cross to Kimarni Smith 10 yards in front of the goalmouth. Smith fired a blast into the back of the net at 16:14 to stake the Tigers to a 1-0 advantage.
"We had a missed clearance that gave them an opportunity," Carlin noted of the sequence. "Credit to Clemson, they took advantage."
The Tigers struck again not long after, advancing the ball through the middle towards the top of the box. Barber's deft moves created an opening and he fired a low blast that Williams made a nice save on. But the rebound fell directly to John Murphy, who was alone on the right side near the goal. The freshman calmly deposited the ball into the net at 24:29 to make it 2-0.
"They spread us out and we got pulled out of our defensive shape on that one," explained Carlin.
Williams came up with two more sensational saves in the period to keep the Wildcats within striking distance. Villanova got its best chance of the period after the toil of junior Jack Gilliam – taken down by a Tigers defender just outside the box – set up a free kick in the final 30 seconds. But Zach Zandi's curling bid caught the side of the net.
At halftime Clemson led 2-0 and owned a 14-2 advantage in shots.
The opening minute of the second half demonstrated a different tempo, though. The Wildcats quickly earned a corner kick – their first of the night – that created a quality chance for Enda O'Neill, who was off balance after a deflection in the box. His bid missed but it was a quality opportunity.
Villanova demonstrated a steely resolve in the period as it held better possession and effectively contained the potent Tigers attack. Yet it was unable to generate a goal to turn up the heat on the Tigers.
Williams made several more strong stops through the period and Villanova produced a high quality scoring chance in the 83rd minute. Senior Kian Zapata turned a Tigers defender and sent a low blast towards the right post that Clemson goalkeeper Jonny Sutherland collected for his first save of the night.
On the night, Clemson owned a 24-6 edge in shots. Williams recorded 11 saves while Sunderland made just the one.
"They got some good looks," stated Carlin, "but Carson made some big saves."
Villanova will return to the Philadelphia area on Tuesday and will turn the page to Friday night's clash with Penn State at Talen Energy Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. or 45 minutes after the conclusion of the Villanova-Virginia Tech women's contest that begins at 5 p.m.
"We play these kinds of games because we want to be challenged and we were tonight," stated Carlin. "I think we'll come out of this stronger for the experience, knowing we have to clean some things up to be ready for these kinds of road games when we get into the Big East."
