| 100% | ASSIST | 6 | Play or touch that sets up a goal in soccer |
| 44% | GOALS | 5 | What you score in soccer or hockey, or resolutions that are set as a New Year's tradition |
| 41% | SCORE | 5 | Make a goal in hockey or play a word in Scrabble |
| 39% | CLUBMED | 7 | All-inclusive-vacation company that sets you up in a village |
| 38% | SCORED | 6 | Made a goal in soccer |
| 38% | SCORE | 5 | Get a goal in soccer |
| 37% | URHAMLET | 8 | Play that may be an early version of a Shakespeare tragedy set in Denmark |
| 37% | BOFF | 4 | A line in a play or film, that elicits a big laugh |
| 36% | CAMP | 4 | Set up a tent in the woods |
| 36% | SCORE | 5 | Get a goal, in soccer |
| 36% | ASSIST | 6 | To help, or a goal-scoring pass in soccer |
| 35% | RIGGED | 6 | Set up, in a way |
| 35% | FRAME | 5 | Set up, in a way |
| 35% | ENCAMP | 6 | Set up in a clearing |
| 35% | ENTRAP | 6 | Set up, in a way |
| 35% | SLUR | 4 | In music, a curved line indicating that a melody is to be played legato or as a single phrase |
| 35% | TWINKILLING | 11 | Baseball double play, in slang ... or a hint to understanding the 12 Across answers that have circles |
| 35% | TVS | 3 | Sets up in a sports bar? |
| 35% | CORNERKICKS | 11 | Goal-scoring opportunities in soccer ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 34% | SHOT | 4 | Attempt at scoring a goal in a soccer match |
| 34% | GLASSCLIFF | 10 | Metaphor for a high-risk leadership position that may set a woman or nonbinary person up for failure |
| 34% | ARRANGES | 8 | Sets up, as flowers in a vase |
| 33% | TAP | 3 | ___-in (goal scored in soccer with a light touch at close range) |
| 33% | STAGED | 6 | A scene that has been faked or set up |
| 33% | CORNERKICK | 10 | *It sets up many a header goal |
| 33% | SHIN | 4 | Something guarded in soccer, besides a goal |
| 33% | EDIT | 4 | Touch up, in a way |
| 33% | CAMP | 4 | Establish or set up a ____ |
| 33% | INSTANT | 7 | ___ replay, quick video clip of a play that's broadcasted, and a popular break-time sight in the NBA or MLB |
| 33% | SLUR | 4 | Symbol of a curved line in Western musical notation indicating that two or more notes are to be played without separation |