Everything you need to know about Washington’s meeting with Clemson in the College Cup championship
For the first time in program history, the Washington Huskies men’s soccer team has reached the College Cup championship.
The Huskies secured a trip to Sunday’s title match against Clemson with a historic victory over Georgetown in the semifinals Friday.
In what is also the first trip to the College Cup in their history, the Huskies are now one win away from claiming their first national title.
Here’s what you need to know about how UW reached this point, its final opponent in Clemson, and how to watch it all unfold.
GAME INFORMATION
No. 8 Clemson (15-5-2) vs. No. 2 Washington (18-1-2)
11 a.m. (PST) Sunday
WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C.
TV: ESPNU | Stream: ESPN.com | Watch party: Alaska Airlines Arena
While this is the first trip to the NCAA Tournament championship for the Huskies, the Tigers have been here four times before — winning titles in 1984 and 1987, and finishing as the tournament runners-up in 1979 and as recently as 2015. Clemson reached the final by topping fourth-seeded Notre Dame in a 5-3 penalty shootout after the two teams played to a 1-1 draw. Prior to their semifinals win, the Tigers also won their quarterfinals match against Pac-12 champion Oregon State — which handed the Huskies their only loss to this point back in October — in another shootout. In UW’s semifinals match against third-seeded Georgetown, Lucas Meek and Charlie Ostrem both scored to lift the Huskies to the 2-1 win. This is the second meeting between UW and Clemson. The only other meeting between these two programs was in 1996, when the Huskies picked up a 4-1 win in Portland.
ROAD TO THE COLLEGE CUP CHAMPIONSHIP
Clemson
First round — bye
Second round — defeated Denver, 1-0
Third round — defeated No. 9 Kentucky, 2-1
Quarterfinals — defeated No. 1 Oregon State, 1-1 (4-3 penalty kicks)
Semifinals — defeated No. 4 Notre Dame, 1-1 (5-3 penalty kicks)
Washington
First round — bye
Second round — defeated Portland, 3-1
Third round — defeated No. 15 Indiana, 3-2 (OT)
Quarterfinals — defeated No. 10 Saint Louis, 2-0
Semifinals — defeated No. 3 Georgetown, 2-1
ABOUT THE TIGERS
NCAA Tournament appearances — 34 (third consecutive)
College Cup appearances — 9 (1984 and 1987 champions, 1979 and 2015 runners-up)
Coach — Mike Noonan (12th season)
Individual stat leaders
Goals — Luis Felipe Fernandez-Salvador (eight), Isaiah Reid (seven), Ousmane Sylla (five), Mohamed Seye (five), Oskar Agren (five).
Assists — Sylla (six), Fernandez-Salvador (five), Callum Johnson (five), Enrique Montana (five).
Saves — George Marks (69).
Notable team stats
(National stat rankings per NCAA.com)
Goal differential — 22 (49 goals for, 19 against), ranks eighth
Goals per game — 2.23, 14th
Shots per game — 15.95, 10th
Shots on goal per game — 6.27, 37th
Save percentage — .789, 17th
ABOUT THE HUSKIES
NCAA Tournament appearances — 28 (sixth consecutive)
College Cup appearances — 1
Coach — Jamie Clark (11th season)
Individual stat leaders
Goals — Dylan Teves (12), Gio Miglietti (six), Ryan Sailor (six).
Assists — Charlie Ostreem (nine), Teves (eighth), Lucas Meek (five).
Saves — Sam Fowler (62). Fowler’s save percentage (.816) also ranks third in the nation, while his goals-against average (.675) ranks seventh and eight shutouts rank tied for 12th.
Notable team stats
(National stat rankings per NCAA.com)
Goal differential — 34 (48 goals for, 14 against), ranks tied for fourth
Goals per game — 2.29, 11th
Shots per game — 15.95, 11th
Shots on goal per game — 6.48, 25th
Save percentage — .823, second
This story was originally published December 12, 2021 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Everything you need to know about Washington’s meeting with Clemson in the College Cup championship."
