Clemson signee Tanner Tessmann has signed a three-year contract with FC Dallas, choosing a professional soccer career over playing college football.

“I’m excited to get started,” Tessmann said. “Signing a professional contract has been a goal of mine since I moved to Texas to join the Academy at 14 years old. I’ve made a lot of sacrifices to get this opportunity, so it meant a lot to have my family here with me today.”

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Tessmann had signed with Clemson soccer and would also have kicked for the football team. Tessman, who had never played football, was given the chance with Dabo Swinney due to his father’s close relationship with the elite football coach.

Swinney has said he was the only person on the planet who knew of Tessmann’s football ability because of his ability to kick 45 to 50 yards in the eighth grade.

“He’s one of the best athletes,” Swinney said. “He could go play D-I basketball. He could probably start at receiver at Clemson. He could probably play safety at Clemson. He’s a 6-foot-2 phenom. He can fly. He’s as good athlete as I’ve ever seen.”

Maximiliano Urruti scored twice and Mauro Diaz recorded a goal and three assists to lead FC Dallas to a 4-2 victory over the New England Revolution on Tuesday night to win the U.S. Open Cup at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

FC Dallas Tops Revolution 4-2 For US Open Cup Title

The win marked Dallas’ first Open Cup championship since 1997 — which came under its previous name, the Burn — and with it, the team has now earned a spot in the 2017 CONCACAF Champions League.

In the 2007 Open Cup final, New England defeated Dallas by a goal (3-2) in the same stadium in a rather astounding way to win that first tournament title in franchise history.

The Revolution’s Juan Agudelo opened the scoring in the sixth minute. Following a Dallas turnover deep in its own end, Gershon Koffie played a through ball and Agudelo beat his defender to fire a right-footed shot from the middle of the Dallas area just inside the far post to give New England a 1-0 lead. The shot marked the Revolution’s only one on goal in the first half.

Nevertheless, FCD responded with three of their own goals to put the score at 3-1 at halftime.

Urruti netted the first in the 15th minute to tie it 1-1. He took Diaz’s cross with his left foot and one-touched it into the goal with his right.

Then in the 40th minute, Dallas captain Matt Hedges made it 2-1 by heading home a Diaz chip– which came after a corner kick was deflected outside the box– over the Revolution defense.

Diaz pushed the score to 3-1 when he buried a hard low shot on a penalty kick just inside the near post in first-half stoppage time. The penalty was awarded by referee Baldomero Toledo after Hedges had his jersey pulled during a free kick.

Urrruti then finished a breakaway in the 62nd minute to make it 4-1. Agudelo scored the Revolution’s second goal in the 73rd minute with a tap-in at the near post after a pass from Teal Bunbury bounced off the foot of a Dallas defender.

Revolution coach Jay Heaps turned to his bench twice before halftime, bringing on Kei Kamara, who had been labeled as questionable with a right hip strain, for Gershon Koffie in the 37th minute and Chris Tierney for defender Je-Vaughn Watson during stoppage time, although neither substitution proved beneficial.

Watson played for FC Dallas from 2013-2015, and Tuesday’s game marked his first in Frisco since being traded to New England in March.

In the 32nd minute, New England goalkeeper Brad Knighton denied a strong chance by Dallas midfielder Ryan Hollingshead with a kick save.

New England previously lost in the Open Cup final in 2001. The Revolution fell 2-1 to the Los Angeles Galaxy in overtime at Gillette Stadium.

Champions of two straight in league play, New England return to MLS action Saturday night at Montreal.

TORONTO, ON – MAY 07: Zach Loyd #17 of FC Dallas passes the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer game against Toronto FC at BMO Field on May 7, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

A roller coaster of a game last night gave The Portland Timbers a bid to the MLS Cup for the first time after a late-season and playoff surge. The Timbers faced FC Dallas yesterday in a tight-knit match that saw action go all the way to the last minute.

With the game scoreless after one half, Fanendo Adi was able to score the first goal off a Diego Valeri pass. But Dallas did not give up for in the 69th minute, defenseman Ryan Hollingshead tied the game up after Mauro Diaz found Hollinghead going straight up the field on the left side. Four minutes later, Diaz was able to pass the ball on a free kick to Blas Perez and he headed the ball into the net to give Dallas a 2-1 lead and hopes of forcing extra time. This was all the offense Dallas could do for the rest of the game since Portland already won the MLS Cup bid because of the 5-3 aggregate series Portland had against Dallas. Lucas Melano scored a safe goal in stoppage time to steal the victory for the Timbers.

The Portland Timbers will face the Columbus Crew SC next week in the MLS Cup Final next Sunday at 4 p.m., where it will be aired on ESPN.

Photo: FRISCO, TX – NOVEMBER 29: Alvas Powell #2 of Portland Timbers dribbles the ball against Blas Perez #7 of FC Dallas during the Western Conference Finals-Leg 2 of the MLS playoffs at Toyota Stadium on November 29, 2015 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)