Clemson Makes Statement with Dominant Win Over Albany The Tigers put up 21 goals on 39 Shots in Wednesday Win

CLEMSON- The University at Albany Great Danes traveled 900 miles south to witness Clemson’s warm weather and even hotter shooting Wednesday.

The Tigers (8-4, 3-2 ACC) handed the Great Danes a 21-8 loss at the Clemson Lacrosse Complex in their second consecutive win this week. The victory marked the sixth time this season that Clemson has won by a margin of seven or more goals.

In contrast to recent scoring struggles, it felt like the Tigers could not miss Wednesday night.

Offensively, the Great Danes (8-11, 5-1) had no answer for the Tigers. Seven different Clemson players scored in the victory, and five Tigers were responsible for multiple goals. Sophomore attacker Regan Byrne wasted no time asserting her skills, slinging in a top-right shot three minutes after the first draw to grab a Clemson lead.

On the next possession, UAlbany’s Gracie McCauley answered with her own score. Byrne, an Urbana, Md., native, responded with another goal to take the second Tigers lead of the day.

However, Clemson never had to worry about taking a lead again. The Tigers held a 6-1 lead at the end of the first quarter, and though UAlbany went on a 3-2 run in the second quarter, momentum was quickly stifled by a hat trick from Clemson’s Kayla McLeod.

The Great Danes attempted to stop McLeod’s scoring clinic by face-guarding and double-teaming her, but this only resulted in players Lexi Edmonds and Lindsey Marshall getting open for more Tiger goals.

McLeod finished with five goals and an assist, marking her 34th of the season. Marshall added four goals and an assist of her own, while Edmonds and attacker Katie Castiello also added hat tricks and combined for three assists. Natalie Shurtleff scored twice for the Tigers as well.

The offense continued to pour on in the third quarter as the Tigers went on a decisive 7-2 run. Clemson veterans made sure never to let the Great Danes back into the fight.

Clemson finished with 39 shots in contrast to Albany’s 20 and 29 shots on goal to the Great Danes’ 13. Two Tigers keepers combined for five saves.

Freshman phenom Brooke Goldstein was responsible for five assists, marking her 20th of the season. The Delray Beach, Fla., native reached the Clemson season-single record with the milestone.

After a four-game losing streak that knocked the Tigers out of national rankings in the last two weeks, tonight and a sure win over Louisville last Sunday showed that the Tigers are ready to move forward and start a new streak.

They have their next chance to pick up a conference win Saturday when they take on California (5-6, 0-5 ACC) at the Clemson Lacrosse Complex. First draw is set for noon.