The best sport in the conference.
That's how men's soccer head coach John Rennie described the level of competition Duke will face in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season.
"Over the last couple of years every team except Maryland has been at least an NCAA selection bid," Rennie said. "It's a sport in this league that has no bottom team."
Virginia was considered the preseason favorite in the conference after being ranked No. 1 in preseason polls. Currently, four ACC teams are ranked in the Soccer America Top 20, while three teams made the ISAA poll.
The increased level of competition has also meant that there are fewer surprises in terms of upsets. "Almost nothing is considered an upset anymore," Rennie said. "Everyone in this league is an outstanding team."
The Blue Devils begin their conference schedule on the road against 11th-ranked Clemson on Sunday. In recent history, the Tigers have been a nemesis to the Blue Devils, not losing to Duke since 1988. Last season, the two teams tied 1-1 in an early season match -- even though Duke played with a two-man advantage for 103 minutes after two Clemson players were red-carded early in the first half.
Tiger coach Dr. I.M. Ibrahim called it the best performance by a Clemson soccer team he had ever seen.
Later in 1992 Clemson beat Duke 3-2 in an overtime match in the first round of the ACC tournament.
So far in 1993 the Tigers are 2-1-1, having most recently played unranked North Carolina to a 2-2 tie.
"[Clemson] is very fast, very talented, and very physical," Rennie said.
The team is led by senior striker Jimmy Glenn, who leads the conference in total points with 15 and goals scored with six. Glenn also has an impressive five hat tricks in his career, the most in Clemson history.
Overall, the Tigers will initiate what should be a very tough conference schedule this year.
"This could be the toughest year ever in this league."
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