CLEMSON, S.C. – Junior midfielder Tucker Heffron scored his team-leading fourth goal of the season, but the College of Charleston men's soccer team fell 3-1 to ACC and in-state rival Clemson on the road on Tuesday night.

Charleston possessed the ball the better of the teams in the opening exchanges, but it was the Tigers who carved the first clear opportunity after working a short free-kick into an effort from five-yards that came back off the post.

Curren Page had the Cougars first shot on target in the 18^th minute, Temi Adesodun then stopping an almost certain Tigers goal with a sliding block in the 23^rd minute as the striker broke through one-on-one.

Midway through the first half Heffron created half a yard of space on the left wing with silky footwork, his cross flashing across the six-yard box with no Charleston striker able to get on the end of it.

In the 66^th minute Clemson took a 1-0 lead. A 20-yard stunner from the edge of the box by Adrian Nunez kissed the left post and flew into Cameron Smith's top corner.

Charleston hit back almost immediately with Joao Mauricio de Souza playing the ball to Page in the right channel. Page took a touch and chipped a cross to the back post for Heffron to nod back across the goalkeeper and into the bottom right corner. The equalizer was Heffron's team-leading fourth goal of the season, with Page grabbing his second and de Souza his third assist of the year.

Minutes later Charlie Marino had a half-chance from 15 yards after Heffron crossed from the left wing, but he couldn't direct his header towards goal.

As the game entered the final ten minutes, Page tackled late and received his second yellow card of the game, the red card reducing the Cougars to ten men.

Clemson took advantage instantaneously with a goal from Nunez in the 84^th minute that struck Cole Gulledge, giving Smith no chance from close range, to restore the Tigers lead.

As the match entered the final seconds, Clemson (5-4-1) hit on the counter and added a third to confirm a 3-1 loss for Charleston who move to 3-6-2 on the year. Head coach Ralph Lundy and his squad now look back to Colonial Athletic Association play with a Saturday night matchup at James Madison in Harrisonburg, Va.

Notables
• Tucker Heffron scored his team-leading fourth goal of the season
• Joao de Souza and Curren Page both got the assist for their third and second of the season respectively
• Cameron Smith made four saves in his second start for The College
• Tucker Heffron led the Charleston attack with three efforts, two on target
• Five Cougars played the full 90 minutes, including the full defense of Smith, Gulledge, Dearle and Adesodun (de Souza the other)