Clemson comes through with stunning comeback
- by Soccer America , Nov 17, 2014
“This team is probably made up some of the greatest character young men that I’ve been associated with as a head coach for 27 years, and that came through again today,” Clemson head coach Mike Noonan said.
Louisville appeared virtually assured of winning the match in regulation, holding a 1-0 lead as the clock wound down inside of 10 seconds and the ball in play around midfield. But the Tigers, who scored with just under two minutes remaining to even up Friday night’s quarterfinal match against top-seeded Notre Dame, equalized when junior midfielder Paul Clowes stunned the Cardinals by ramming home his first goal of the season from the top of the box with three seconds remaining.
“As a team, we always believe that we can win games,” said Clowes, who was voted the Championship MVP. “That’s the character we have as a team. We are determined, and we show right until the end. With our team a lot of time the goal scorer is incidental."
Clemson, which has not lost a match since Oct. 7, won its first ACC championship since 2001 and the program’s 14th overall. The Tigers played two overtime periods (110 minutes) in both the quarterfinal against Wake Forest and the semifinal against Notre Dame before advancing on penalty kicks.
Louisville struck for the first goal in the 13th minute when Ricardo Velazco scored on a perfectly timed header on Andrew Brody’s pass from 20 yards out.
2014 ACC Men’s Soccer All-Tournament Team
Ara Amirkhanian, Clemson
Bobby Belair, Clemson
Paul Clowes, Clemson
Kyle Fisher, Clemson
Pahanuel Kavita, Clemson
Andrew Tarbell, Clemson
Joachim Ball, Louisville
Daniel Keller, Louisville
Tim Kubel, Louisville
Ben Strong, Louisville
Ricardo Velazco, Louisville
