NCAA D1 Men’s Soccer Game, Notre Dame & Clemson
What are the ties present in this game, the Note Dame coach had been an asst. At St. John’s. His counterpart at Clemson had played for the Louisville Thunder, my last team scant miles away in the AISA, no he was not the team when we took the national title, now is his chance to get a chip in this city. Dylan Sullivan of Clemson is the brother to NYRB product, Tyler Adams. A pair of the Fighting Irish are from Louisville, getting one more home game. The whole Noonan family are behind Clemson as the other brother and his FCC bowed out of the MLS playoffs.
Over the top and in less than 10 seconds the ‘keeper is sent sprawling and another player to the ground. From in the area ND win a corner off a ball shot from just beyond the 6 and saved out for a corner. The corner is headed goal ward but is well over the frame. Notre Dame wins the ball in the area then the clearing pass goes out of touch. Clemson again into the area, a lead pass grabbed up by the GK. Corner for Clemson, it gets beyond the area off a header and his volley is just wide. There are a few Hoosiers in Cardinal County as son Todd and father Jerry Yeagley are at the game, of course Jerry is inside. Another corner for Clemson it goes near post and caught by the GK. ND with a stop before the area never getting past the bottom of the center circle and Clemson coming at them again. Well over the top by ND and to the GK. Near the touchline, Clemson takes a slap to the face inadvertent but called and the DFK is headed out for yet another corner. It comes out to an orange shirt, he sends it right back 1-0 at 19, Parrish nailed this ball from beyond the penalty arc, off his chest and it drifts right and out of the reach of the GK. Clemson drives it out for a deep ND throw. Again over the top, long and wide by the Fighting Irish. From near the penalty mark, ND gets a great rip after some nice passing, the save gives a corner that leads to a blocked shot for the Irish recovered by them. Russo gets on the end of a lofted ball off a restart and it goes wide. ND moving well in tight spaces but can’t get it on goal and lose it to a throw. A 2nd time shot is blocked, a first time shot would have made it to the net for ND. In the area and down goes a ND player no whistle. A pass by ND that should have been shot in the area. Replay shows it was a penalty, there was contact on the body, no play on the ball. Clemson is just wide, that would have been a difficult halftime, not wide by much but a well taken first time shot by Seye. Players challenging Clemson has a whole lot of kit in his hand, tossing the player to the ground in front of his bench. ND has a break, GK off the line challenges out of the area wins a goal kick. Boye draws a yellow on a head ball, that sent the other sprawling. Way too many touches by ND in the area. A long ball into a pair of Tigers is won by the Irish and any of 3 or so players could have sent that on goal. Trying to shield the ball, Clemson loses the battle but wins the ball, partially cleared and ND have a throw with immense pressure. 1-0 at the half.
Clemson need to get back to the first half hour or so of the game and away from the lst quarter of an hour. ND needs to shoot, pure and simple get selfish and let them fly.
Foul at the top corner but beyond the area by Clemson, in defending it was not a lean but an extended arm that put him down. Shot by ND, driven in and blocked out for a ND corner. A ball into the face of a ND player he is not fully up on his feet as yet, with a trainer at his side. Clemson with 8 goals in his tourney, has 6 goal getters in this post season. Again ND with a rip who culda, shulda, shot the 3rd does and hits the frame and out. Another shirt pull and it draws a yellow due to proximity to goal as it was not as severe as the first. Clemson gives up the DFK from 25 yards, cleared out of touch by Clemson a deep throw for the Irish. The high throw leads to a corner. Far post, not fully cleared and ND recovers then loses it in their attacking third, no wait they recover it yet again. Clemson gets to goal in the area 2 alone on the right the first shot is into the closing defender. 23’ and Seye is carded. ND wants a call on a ball that should have been passed long ago. Clemson now has a shot from the area in right at the GK. Momentum is in the favor of ND at this time. 2-0 by Clemson at 20’ goes outside, back in to the same person and the first time shot buried by Sylla. Picked out of the air in the air by ND but wide. Oh no, almost an OG, this is what happens when defenders face their goal, great stop by the Clemson GK. Still a 10’, ND now taking the half chances presented them. Again, the 3rd player for the Irish sends it on goal. Clemson up by a pair with 3’ get a yellow for dissent. After a VAR delay in their experimental system, a player got sandwiched, he kicked at the Clemson player may have gotten him not badly, Clemson bumped him as he tried to get up and sent him back to the ground. A ND player came to his players defense a bit more of bumping, no cards. Another yellow at 1:30. PK on Clemson at one minute on a ball in the area into the center. GK goes right, kick goes right down the middle 2-1. Ten seconds later, Clemson on goal and win a corner. Offside at about 10, and a caution for delay on Clemson and they may adjust the clock. Now 7 seconds, well below the center circle. Clemson now has their 4th National Title. Did I just hear right on the broadcast, only a pair of seniors, and both scored in the final?