Gamecocks Suffer OT Loss To College of Charleston
Carolina goalkeeper Tristan Himes collected four saves in his college debut
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of South Carolina men’s soccer team suffered a 1-0 overtime loss to College of Charleston on Thursday night at Stone Stadium. The teams were scoreless through regulation, before the Cougars scored on a breakaway goal in the 100th minute. The match was Carolina’s first under the direction of first-year head coach Tony Annan.
Carolina (0-1-0) posted 11 shots compared to nine for the Cougars (1-0-0) in the match. Freshman forward Harrison Myring and junior forward Logan Frost led the Gamecocks with three shots each, while Jake Nicholson’s three attempts on goal led Charleston in the match. Rookie goalkeeper Tristan Himes collected four saves in net for Carolina, and the Charleston goalkeeper, Cameron Smith, had five saves in the shutout.
“I’m very pleased with the way my team played,” Annan said. “I’m very pleased with the effort from my team. I’m very pleased with the guys and the way they approached the game.”
Charleston had its first opportunity at net 10 minutes into the match when Kane Ritchie sent a low drive towards the far post but the Carolina keeper was in perfect position for the save. Himes was challenged again just a few minutes later, making a sliding save on an attempt from Charleston’s Jakob Kristensen at the post, and just a minute later, Himes made a leaping save on a drive off the foot of Cougar midfielder Jake Nicholson to keep the contest scoreless.
The match was tied at 0-0 at the half, before Carolina threatened early in the second on a line-drive shot from Harrison Myring, but the Cougar goalkeeper was in position and collected the save. Minutes later, Himes came off his line to make a diving save to his right side on a strong take from Eneko Sancho in the 57thminute.
At the 65-minute mark, a header from Logan Frost went wide just to the right, and it would spark a flurry of offense from the Gamecocks. After a Cougar foul, the Gamecocks drew a free kick from 40 yards out, which was shot into the box from Jordan Matthews but saved by the Charleston goalkeeper. On the rebound, Myring also had an attempt saved by Smith, and the match held scoreless.
Back and forth play would follow through the midfield, before Carolina was whistled for a foul with just 13 seconds on the clock. Himes cleared the ensuing free kick, and the match stood scoreless at the end of regulation.
Carolina’s best attempt at frame in the first overtime came in the 95th minute. Andrew Halloran was just outside the six-yard box, but his shot sailed high.
Charleston would clinch the win in the 100th minute on a breakaway from just past midfield. Ritchie would score the go-ahead goal on assists from Rio Murray and Jake Nicholson for the overtime win.
Carolina is back in action at Stone Stadium on Sunday when it hosts Winthrop. Match time is set for 7 p.m. ET.
