Clemson beats U of L in ACC soccer final

The University of Louisville men's soccer team lost to Clemson, 2-1, in the second overtime Sunday in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament final in Cary, N.C.

Ara Amirkhanian scored the game-winner for the Tigers in the 105th minute at WakeMed Soccer Park. Paul Clowes began the scoring play with a corner kick. Diego Campos headed the ball to Bobby Belair, who passed it to an open Amirkhanian standing a few yards from the goal line. Amirkhanian punched it in past a diving goalkeeper Joachim Bell.

Clemson (11-6-3) won the ACC tournament for the first time since 2001, and earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

"It's a tough way to finish the ACC Tournament," said Louisville coach Ken Lolla. "I give Clemson credit for battling to the end. We should have managed the game a little bit better and because of that it cost us."

Louisville (10-7-3) sought the tournament title in its first ACC season. The Cardinals should receive an at-large bid when the NCAA pairings are announced Monday afternoon at 1 p.m. The tournament show will be livestreamed at NCAA.com.

Ricardo Velazco put U of L ahead 1-0 early, scoring his sixth goal of the season in the 13th minute off an assist from Andrew Brody.

Clemson drew level with three seconds left in regulation. Clowes's shot from the top of the box went past Bell into the left side of the net.

"As a team, we always believe that we can win games," said Clowes, who was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. "We are determined and we show right until the end. With our team a lot of time the goal scorer is coincidental, and today it was my turn."

U of L, meanwhile, is hopeful of a top-16 seed in the NCAAs. The Cardinals beat North Carolina and top-ranked Syracuse in the ACC tournament.

"We were 22 (in RPI) going into the week," Lolla said. "But are wins against Syracuse and even an overtime loss to Clemson enough to put us in the top 16? I don't know. I don't know enough about the other results. I think if you simply look at our results and our strength of schedule, I think we should be considered in that top 16."

* Ball and Velazco joined teammates Tim Kubel, Daniel Keller and Ben Strong on the all-tournament team.

Amirkhanian, Belair, Clowes, Kyle Fisher, Pahanuel Kavita and Andrew Tarbell of Clemson also made the team.