Clemson Celebrates Another Championship, Victory - Tigers open the 2024 season with a 3-0 win over Penn State

CLEMSON — The Clemson Men’s Soccer Team got a new banner, new rings, and a new opening-day victory Thursday with a 3-0 win over Penn State.

Tiger fans gathered to watch Clemson President Jim Clements and former midfielder Brandon Parrish unveil the 2023 National Championship banner on the home side at Historic Riggs Field before the match. Also a “National Champions” flag was raised as the Tigers took the field for the first time in 2024.

Following the win, head coach Mike Noonan shared why the celebratory atmosphere was special, and reserved for only the Tigers.

“There’s only one school in the country that can do what we did tonight, so that was pretty fun, and the crowd was immense like they always are,” he said. “I keep saying it over and over but [Riggs Field] is the best place to play in college soccer.”

In addition to the new flag and banner, the scoreboard now boasts four national championship teams, as “2023” joins the ranks with former championships from 1984, 1987, and most recently, 2021. Forward Alex Meinhard is already looking to add 2024 to the list.

“It was obviously a very special moment, but once it was done, it was done,” Meinhard said. “It’s a new season and everything is behind us. The crowd that was here was really amazing and gave us that extra boost and that extra momentum.”

Clemson jumped out to an early lead over the Nittany Lions in the first period thanks to two top-right goals from Meinhard and Misei Yoshizawa.

The Tigers (1-0) extended their lead in the 52nd minute when Meinhard crossed a ball off of a Penn State player and into the back of the net. Clemson maintained a 3-0 score as the clock ran out.

The Tigers have a chance to extend their nine-game winning streak against rival South Carolina on Aug 30th, as the Tigers travel to Columbia for the annual battle with their archrival.