In a high-intensity rivalry match where the stat sheet favored the visitors, No. 24 Clemson Women’s Soccer couldn’t translate dominant field position into goals, falling 1-0 to rival South Carolina in the 2026 Palmetto Series opener.
Clemson controlled long stretches of play and finished with a 12-6 edge in total shots, but an 83rd-minute goal by the Gamecocks proved to be the difference maker. The loss moves Clemson to 0-1-2, while South Carolina shifts to 2-1-0.
Key Game Moments
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11′ — Early Threat: Junior Anna Castenfelt fired a clean strike from just inside the penalty box, forcing an early save from South Carolina’s keeper.
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Halftime — Scoreless Duel: Senior Dani Davis registered Clemson’s second shot on target before the break, but the teams entered halftime locked at 0-0 despite Clemson’s 5-2 shooting advantage.
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80′ — Late Surge: Sophomore Juju Harris and Dani Davis put together back-to-back scoring chances; Harris forced a save inside the box before Davis’ follow-up curled just over the top-left corner.
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83′ — The Game-Winner: South Carolina broke the stalemate late in the second half, connecting on a cross inside the box to notch the lone goal of the evening.
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90′ — Last-Gasp Effort: Senior Gabby Hoschek got off one final shot in the closing minutes, but the Gamecocks held firm to secure the clean sheet.
Clemson goalkeeper Nona Reason played all 90 minutes, making one save to bring her season total to nine.
Head Coach Eddie Radwanski’s Reaction
“We’re proud of our kids. We actually played pretty well today, had a lot of the ball, and kept control of the game in front of a hostile crowd. Sometimes it comes down to not finishing your chances when you have the opportunity.
It’s a harsh lesson, but you’d rather go through it now in August as opposed to the NCAA Tournament. We’ll wrap it back up, get in a recovery session, and get ready for Sunday.”
Match Comparison
| Metric | Clemson | South Carolina |
| Goals | 0 | 1 |
| Shots | 12 | 6 |
| Shots on Goal | 3 | 2 |
| Saves | 1 | 3 |
Up Next
Clemson returns home to Historic Riggs Field on Sunday, Aug. 23 at 1 p.m. to take on Campbell. Admission is free, and the match will stream live on ACCNX.
