Staples Reunion For Clemson Soccer
It was a day for Clemson orange.
But there was plenty of Staples blue in Cary, North Carolina yesterday.
The Tigers faced Wake Forest University, for the ACC championship. The local connections:
— Clemson is coached by Mike Noonan ’79. The former Wrecker state champion and Middlebury College All-American has led his team to 2 national titles, in the past 3 years.
— The Tigers’ keeper is Paddy Donovan. He played for Beachside’s MLS Next academy team, not Staples. But the 2022 SHS graduate is a frequent participant in Staples soccer events. He became Clemson’s starting goalie 5 games ago, after the starter broke his leg. He has responded superbly, making several key saves in each match.
— Donovan’s father Dan (SHS ’82) is also a former Staples soccer state champ. He went on to play at Lehigh University — as did his late brother Doug ’79, a Staples teammate of Noonan’s. Both Dan and his wife Nicole — a fellow Staples grad — were in the stands yesterday.
— So were Dave and Marianne Harrison. Former teachers at Staples (social studies and physical education, respectively), both have known the Noonan and Donovan families for decades. Harrison placed Noonan in an internship in the office of Congressman Toby Moffett in 1979, when Harrison initiated Staples’ Washington internship program. Harrison was also the long-time timer for Staples soccer. His son Justin starred on the 1990 state finalist squad.
The ACC final was a back-and-forth, head-snapping affair. After 1-1 throughout regulation play and overtime, the match went to penalty kicks. Donovan did his job — he made one excellent save — but one Clemson shooter hit the past, and another missed the frame.
The 7-6 penalty kick loss goes down in the record books as a draw. So Donovan remains undefeated. Now he, his teammates, coach, parents — and the Harrisons — await the draw for the NCAA tournament.
From left: Nicole Donovan, Dave and Marianne Harrison, Dan Donovan.
