On Monday night, fourth-year seniors Brandon Parrish and Usman Sylla each scored as No. 9 Clemson held off No. 2 Notre Dame 2-1 to win its second national championship in three seasons.
Clemson University (15-3-5) is appearing in the championship game for the sixth time in school history and second time in three seasons, having won titles in 1984, 1987 and 2021. The Tigers also defeated Notre Dame in the 2021 semifinals.
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Notre Dame (13-3-6) was seeking its second championship in program history after winning the College Cup in 2013.
Parish scored his eighth goal of the season in the 27th minute to take a 1-0 lead, making a short clearance and firing a shot deflected from long range past a diving Brian Dowd.
Clemson has improved to 11-0-1 this season when leading in the first half.
Parrish also deflected the ball off the goal line in the 58th minute, preserving the 1-0 lead.
Sylla, who was named the tournament’s most outstanding offensive player, scored his 13th goal of the season (10 assists) in the 70th for a 2-0 lead. Sylla played the ball wide near the midfield circle, and Alex Meinhardt dribbled into space and crossed into the penalty spot, scoring wide open.
Joseph Andema almost recorded his fifth straight shutout in the NCAA Tournament until Tyler Trimnall was whistled for a handball in the 89th minute and Paddy Barnes converted a penalty kick.
Barnes had another chance to score in the 56th minute with a wide open shot at the back post, but his off-balance shot went over the crossbar.
Andema made three saves for Clemson, which allowed 18 goals in the first 18 games of the season but just one goal in the last five games. The Tigers remained scoreless for 449 minutes in the tournament and were on their way to becoming the sixth champion to not allow a goal in the postseason.
The Tigers and Irish met earlier this season, with Notre Dame winning 3-2 on September 9th. Parrish also scored in that game to tie the game at 2-3, and in the 50th Notre Dame’s Daniel Russo scored the winning goal on a free kick.
Last week, Florida State defeated Stanford, 5-1, to win the women’s final, ending the Seminoles’ undefeated season.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this article.