Tigers on top: Clemson men’s soccer wins 2023 national championship

Clemson is the best team in college men’s soccer.

Again.

The Tigers defeated Notre Dame 2-1 on Monday night in Louisville, Kentucky, to win their second NCAA national championship in three seasons.

Senior midfielder and team captain Brandon Parrish scored an unassisted goal in the 27th minute at Lynn Family Stadium, and senior All American Ousmane Sylla added a goal of his own in the 70th minute, assisted by senior Alex Meinhard.

The Tigers surrendered a penalty kick in the final minute after a handball.

But a veteran-heavy run of scoring led Clemson its fourth all-time national championship in men’s soccer. The Tigers also won it all in 1984, 1987 and 2021.

With the win, coach Mike Noonan becomes the third coach in Clemson athletics history to win multiple team national titles, joining the late, great men’s soccer coach Dr. I.M. Ibrahim and current football coach Dabo Swinney.

Clemson has also claimed its eighth all-time team national championship. The new list: men’s soccer with four (1984, 1987, 2021, 2023), football with three (1981, 2016, 2018) and men’s golf with one (2003).

The Tigers were making their 10th all-time appearance in the College Cup (the Final Four of collegiate soccer) and sixth all-time national championship appearance.