Cary, N.C. Hensley Hancuff saved UCLA’s sixth penalty kick attempt and the 14-seed Tigers (12-4-2) advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2006 after defeating 3-seed UCLA (13-1-3) 6-5 on penalty kicks, following a 1-1 draw.
Wednesday’s game marks the second time in program history for Clemson to have back-to-back NCAA Tournament games decided by PKs, the other being 2006 when the Tigers advanced to their most recent quarterfinals.
The teams entered sudden death PKs after both converting their first five attempts. Samantha Meredith, who scored Clemson’s only goal in regulation, buried Clemson’s sixth attempt, before Hancuff smothered an attempt from Madelyn Desiano to end it.
Tigers Seek Revenge In NCAA Sweet Sixteen
Clemson, S.C. – After collecting a 1-1 draw and advancing 5-3 on penalty kicks in the second round versus Rutgers, the sixth-ranked and 14-seeded Clemson women’s soccer team (12-4-1, 5-3 ACC) gets set for its first Sweet Sixteen appearance since the 2016 season as they square off with third-ranked and 3-seeded UCLA (13-1-2, 9-1-1 Pac-12) on Wednesday, May 5. The match is set to kickoff at 6 p.m. from WakeMed Field #4 in Cary, N.C. with live coverage on GoHeels.com.
In the Tigers’ opening match of the NCAA Tournament after receiving a first-round bye, Maliah Morris found the back of the net in the 27th minute. The sophomore forward from Germantown, Md. was able to catch up to a ball sent downfield from her sister Makenna before walking it into the box and curling the left-footed shot to the far side of the net. It was Morris’s sixth goal of the season, placing her second amongst the team for total points with 16.
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TCU vs. New Mexico
Yazmeen Ryan’s TCU Horned Frogs received a first-round bye in the NCAA Tournament. The Big 12 Champions met New Mexico in the second round. The Lobos advanced to the second round after defeating Navy on penalty kicks.
TCU started the match with a few half-chances. The Lobos’ avoided going down early and played at a frantic pace, pressing the Horned Frogs and forcing them into turnovers.
In the 28th minute, a miscommunication between two TCU defenders allowed Alesia Garcia to receive the ball at the top of the 18-yard box. She fired her shot past the keeper at the far post to give the Lobos a surprise lead.
Tigers Open Up NCAA Tournament Action Against Rutgers
CLEMSON, S.C. – After receiving the 14-seed and a First Round bye in this year’s NCAA Tournament, the Clemson women’s soccer team (12-4-0) opens up its postseason slate with a Second Round match against Rutgers (9-3-3). The match is set to kickoff from Eakes Athletics Complex at Campbell University on April 30 at 7 p.m. with live broadcasting available on ESPN3.
The Second Round match will be the first all-time meeting between the Tigers and Scarlet Knights. In the most recent United Soccer Coaches poll released on April 20, Clemson garnered the No. 6 national ranking for the second-straight week as Rutgers opened the postseason as the second team receiving votes.
Bornkamp Named ACC Offensive Player of the Week
GREENSBORO, N.C. – After netting a brace in a 2-1 win over No. 11 South Carolina, freshman midfielder Megan Bornkamp was named the ACC Offensive Player of the Week, announced by the conference office on Tuesday.
Bornkamp became the fifth ACC Player of the Week selection for the Tigers in the 2020-21 season and the third separate player to earn offensive honors. It is the first weekly honor in any capacity for the Mooresville, N.C. native.
Bornkamp’s two goals against the Gamecocks came in the 72nd and 82nd minutes of the match. The freshman now leads the team in goals (8) and game-winning goals (4) while sharing the team lead for points (17) with Caroline Conti. The eight goals are the most by an ACC freshman this season.