CLEMSON – All-American Freshman Emma Penczek shattered career-highs in assists, goals, and shots as unseeded Clemson dominated Davidson 19-6 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Dorrance Field in Chapel Hill, N.C. Friday.

Five different players scored multiple goals and three had multiple assists as the Tigers notched their seventh double-digit win of the season.

Penczek finished with three goals, goals assists, and a caused turnover, while another freshman, Aubrie Eisfeld, scored a career-high five goals. 

Second-team All-American Alexa Spallina finished with two goals and three assists, and sophomore Brooke Goldstein notched her sixth career game with four or more goals.

The freshman class accounted for 17 of the Tigers’ 30 total points as Clemson advanced to its second consecutive second round appearance against No. 2 seed North Carolina.

With the win, Clemson (15-5, 7-3 ACC) improved its record over Davidson (15-5) to 4-0 in program history, with two victories coming this season. The Tigers have now defeated two opponents twice this year. Clemson has outscored the Wildcats, the A10 champions, by a X-X margin this season.

The Tigers struck first in the first minute of play, with a goal from Eisfeld, who scored four times in Clemson’s ACC Tournament Semifinal loss. Goldstein, an attacker, found the midfielder again with 11:43 to play in the first for another goal, extending the lead 2-0.

After securing its third draw control in as many minutes, Penczek found Goldstein for her 39th goal this season, and after the first caused turnover from defender Tegan Scott, Eisfeld ripped a ball into the cage again for her 33rd goal this year and an early hat trick to extend the lead 4-0.

Spallina, Clemson’s leader in points and the ACC’s Freshman Player of the Year, added another shortly after to continue the first-period offensive burst.

Davidson’s Jenna Skibbe got the Wildcats on the board with a shot that bounced in and out of the net. Upon review, it was deemed a goal, and cut the lead 5-1. Quickly after, Spallina found Goldstein to take back a five-goal lead.

Clemson held a 6-1 lead after the first, fueled by five early assists from Penczek, three goals from Eisfeld, and two more from Goldstein. All six goals were assisted.

Spallina struck again in the first 25 seconds of the second period, and Penczek added another on an isolation move on the next possession. Eisfeld picked up her fourth goal of the afternoon to mark her second consecutive four-score game and take a 9-1 lead.

Goldstein, Penczek, and Natalie Shurtleff each scored again in the second, bringing Penczek to three goals and five assists in the half.

Davidson scored once more as Clemson headed to the break with a 13-2 lead, its largest halftime break since a 16-4 lead over Queens on Feb. 17. The Tigers secured 11 draw controls to the Wildcats’ three in the first half.

Davidson opened all second-half scoring to open the second half, but Eisfeld and graduate midfielder Bridget Babcock erased the score with two goals of their own. Goldstein added another with 5:55 to play in the third, bringing her goal count to four on the day. Shurtleff added another for a 17-3 lead and her 100th career goal to end the third.

Clemson outscored Davidson 4-1 in the third, bringing in reserve Gigi Adamson in goal. Davidson scored three in the fourth, but it was enough to overcome the Tigers’ gaping lead in Clemson’s fourth consecutive win over non-conference opponents.

Tigers Without Standouts

Clemson played Friday without Kayla McLeod, an attacker with 31 points on the season, and Regan Byrne, who has notched 35 goals this season.

Spallina Against the Wildcats

In Clemson’s last matchup against Davidson, Spallina scored three goals and notched 10 assists, the most in any Division One game this year. With Friday’s performance, she now has X total goals and X total assists across two appearances against the Wildcats.

Up Next

The Tigers now have a chance to get revenge against host North Carolina, the No. 2 National Seed in the second round. Clemson fell 12-9 to UNC earlier this season, which was the closest margin against the Tar Heels in program history. The Tigers will have a chance to get over the hump and into the Semifinal round Sunday at noon, when first draw is set. Coverage will be shown on ESPN Plus.