At the business end of the college season, the team that managed to make the most of the marginal moments, often finish the season at the top.

With a national championship on the line in Sunday’s College Cup final, Clemson mastered theirs. Two goals from Isaiah Reid in the game’s first 15 minutes and another stout defensive effort by the Tiger back line anchored a 2-0 win against Washington.

You just have to take your moments don't you? They can happeni n the first minute of the game and they can happen in the 94th minute of the game," Clemson head coach Mike Noonan said after the game. "When the moments come, you ahve to be prepared and I think that's the best part of the team."

For Clemson, the first moment came just 26 seconds into the game when the Tigers scored first. Reid chased down an innocuous long ball fired by Oskar Agren towards the UW box. Goalkeeper Sam Fowler came off his line, but missed with his clearance attempt. That left Reid alone on the ball, and he slotted home for a dream start.

😱 26 seconds in and @ClemsonMSoccer takes a 1-0 lead! 😱#MCollegeCup pic.twitter.com/z4jooztvca

— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) December 12, 2021

Rattled but not deterred, Washington settled into the game, seeking to quickly get back into the game, as Notre Dame had managed in Friday’s semifinal.

But it the Tigers struck again. Two shots, two goals. With an early lead, left back Charlie Asensio was aggressive with his darting runs into the attack. After, switch of the field to Ousmane Sylla, Asensio served in a ball across the penalty box that Reid headed high and over Fowler for the second goal of the game in the 15th minute.

That's what we call using your head!@ClemsonMSoccer leads 2-0.#MCollegeCup x 🎥 ESPNU pic.twitter.com/d0TmtODTPT

— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) December 12, 2021

Backed by a defense that peaked as the season progressed, and with George Marks in the form of his life, a two-goal advantage would be enough. Lucas Meek got the first shot on target in the 28th minute, an easy stop for Meeks. Clemson’s back line contained the hungry Huskies, and they wouldn’t test marks against until the 88th minute. The Tigers needed just four shots on the evening, on the way to winning a third national championship in program history and the first since 1987.

Starting Lineups:

Clemson: George Marks; Justin Malou, Oskar Agren, Hamady Diop, Charlie Asensio, Quinn McNeill, Alvaro Gomez, Luis Felipe Fernandez-Salvador, Callum Johnson, Isaiah Reid, Ousmane Sylla

Washington: Washington: Sam Fowler; Kendall Burks, Achille Robin, Ryan Sailor, Charlie Ostrem, Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, Imanol Rosales, Christian Soto, Nicholas Scardina, Dylan Teves, Raul Giovanni Miglietti

2021 NCAA Men’s College Cup All-Tournament Team

Oskar Agren, Clemson, D

Luis Felipe Fernandez-Salvador, Clemson, M

Justin Malou, Clemson, D

Zach Riviere, Georgetown, M/F

Jack Lynn, Notre Dame, F

Lucas Meek, Washington, M

Charlie Ostrem, Washington, D

Ryan Sailor, Washington, D

Dylan Teves, Washington, M

Offensive Most Outstanding Player: Isaiah Reid, Clemson, F

Defensive Most Outstanding Player: George Marks, Clemson, GK