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Extra Time: Callum Johnson
In the 13th minute of Clemson’s match against Syracuse on March 7, Callum Johnson slipped in behind the Orange’s defense and scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal from the top of the 18-yard box. Luis Felipe Fernandez-Salvador created the opportunity by playing a perfectly weighted pass across the field and into Johnson’s stride after springing a counter-attack opportunity in Clemson’s own defensive third. After receiving the pass with a positive touch, Johnson fired his shot around the Orange’s keeper while simultaneously being tackled to the ground. Rather than watching the ball hit the back of the net, Johnson knew he had scored by the crowd’s immediate roar.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. The Clemson men’s soccer program remains atop the national Top 25 poll in the second week of the Spring Rankings, as announced earlier today by United Soccer Coaches. Clemson received 23 of the 26 available first-place votes. Tuesday’s announcement marks the 34th week in program history that Clemson is ranked No. 1.
Clemson is one of five ACC programs included in the rankings, as the Tigers are joined by Wake Forest (No. 4), Pittsburgh (No. 8), Virginia Tech (No. 21), and Virginia (No. 24). Clemson remains atop the poll following a convincing 3-1 victory over Syracuse on March 7 at Historic Riggs Field. Tuesday’s poll makes the 2020-2021 season the first since 1998 that Clemson is ranked No. 1 in consecutive weeks.
• The Aztecs fell to No. 4 Stanford 1-0 in extra time last Saturday evening.
• The Cardinal scored the game-winner in the first minute of extra time.
• The Aztecs held Stanford without a shot for the first 47 minutes and only allowed three shots on goal all evening against a Cardinal team that had outscored its opponents 12-1 in their three matches entering the night.
• SDSU held a 4-0 shot advantage in the first half and had two shots on frame.
• In the second half, Stanford outshot the Aztecs 9-2, although they only had a couple dangerous opportunities, one being the game-winner.
• The Aztecs rolled out the same starting XI as their season opener against UCLA, which features four freshmen (Bryson Hankins, Elias Katsaros, Andre Ochoa and Iñigo Villaldea) and four sophomores (Blake Bowen, Kyle Colonna (RS), Hunter George and GK Tetsuya Kadono).
CLEMSON, S.C. Major League Soccer announced earlier today that Clemson midfielder Philip Mayaka has signed a Generation adidas contract. A native of Nairobi, Kenya, Mayaka is now eligible for selection in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft, which is set to take place virtually on Jan. 21 at 2 p.m. This is the seventh time in program history and second consecutive year that Clemson has had a member of its program sign a Generation adidas contract.
Today’s announcement signals the end of Mayaka’s collegiate eligibility and means he will join his new club after being selected in the upcoming draft.
During his time at Clemson, Mayaka was named a 2019 MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist, second-team All-American, first-team All-South Region, first-team All-ACC, ACC Freshman of the Year, and was a member of the ACC’s All-Freshman team. Before the 2020 season, Mayaka earned preseason All-American honors from College Soccer News.