CLEMSON, S.C. - Coastal Carolina (11-9-1) men's soccer team put up a great effort but couldn't break through, as it was defeated by #12 Clemson (12-5-3) 2-0 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, Nov. 18.

Both teams came out on the attack, as Clemson freshman Bryson Moore tallied a shot that went high in the first :33 seconds. Coastal answered with a shot of its own as Peter Louis' (Dallas, Texas//Lake Highlands) shot from 28 yards also went high (3:19).

Clemson's Hector Quintanar had a terrific scoring opportunity as he took a centering pass from Mark Buchholtz, who had beaten the CCU keeper sophomore Aaron Weant (Morrisville, N.C./Green Hope) to the left. But Quintanar's shot attempt was foiled by Louis who knocked the ball away directly in front of goal at the very last possible moment.

Clemson got on the board after peppering the CCU goal with shots for most of the first half. Junior Dane Richards dribbled through the CCU defense down the right side and ripped a shot to the left upper corner for the first tally of the evening (21:32). It was Richards' ninth goal of the season.

The lead increased for Clemson, as Quintanar took the feed from senior Randy Albright directly in front of the net and ripped a ball into upper left corner for the second tally of the evening (27:41).

Coastal sophomore Patrick Robertson (Woodlands, Texas/Woodlands) had a header on goal off the feed from sophomore Daniel O'Brien (Shoreview, Minn./Mounds) but it was knocked away by Tigers goalkeeper Phil Marfuggi (31:08). Coastal continued to attack as sophomore Robert Holstein (Middleburg, Fla./St. John's County (Queens Univ. Charlotte)) had his shot go just high in a one on one with the keeper (38:45). At the break Clemson had the advantage in shots at 10-4 and corner kicks 2-0.

In the second half, senior Joseph Kabwe (Bulawayo,Zimbabwe/Sakubva (Lindsey Wilson)) had a great scoring opportunity but his shot attempt from 30 yards was saved by the Tigers keeper just after the break (50:38).

Sophomore Dominic Rossi (Kellyville, Australia/Oakhill College (Macquarie)) had a golden opportunity to cut the lead in half, but his shot attempt was saved by the Clemson keeper, directly in front of the net (71:05).

For the game the Chanticleers were outshot 18-8, including 10 shots on goal to four. The loss dropped Weant to 8-6 on the season.

Coastal ends its season having made its fifth NCAA Tournament in as many years, while Clemson advances to the second round of the NCAA Tournament to square off against North Carolina State at 2 p.m. on Nov. 22.