Gamecocks Run Past Eagles on Opening Night
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina men’s soccer team (1-0) put on a clinic in its season opener, as the Gamecocks took down Winthrop (0-1) 7-1 Thursday night (Aug. 22) at Stone Stadium. The seven goals by Carolina are the most in a game since they scored eight in the 1999 season opener against the Citadel.
The crowd of 6,622 was the second largest in program history, trailing the record crowd of 6,892 from Aug. 26, 2016, against Clemson.
The Gamecocks outpaced Winthrop the entire game, leading 27-to-9 on shots and 21-to-2 in shots on goal. They also held a 9-to-3 advantage in corner kicks. The 27 shots are the most since also attempting 27 against Georgia Southern on Sept. 13, 2016. The 21 shots on goal are the most by a Carolina team since at least 1999. Ethan Ballek led the way with nine shots, seven on goal, becoming the first player since Sam Arthur on Sept. 2, 2008, against Presbyterian to put up nine shots in a match.
South Carolina found the back of the net for the first time this season in the 20th minute with a goal from team captain Harrison Myring. He put home the rebound after the initial shot by Ballek was saved. Less than two minutes later freshman Alejandro Velazquez-Lopez doubled the lead to give the Gamecocks a 2-0 lead 21 minutes into the opening half.
In the 29th minute, South Carolina was given a man advantage for the remainder of the match after a red card to a Winthrop player for a goal-denying opportunity. South Carolina didn’t waste any time taking advantage, as Ballek scored his first goal of the season in the 33rd minute.
Ballek wasn’t done for the half, sending his second past the Winthrop keeper in the 40th minute to solidify a 4-0 lead heading into halftime.
Martin Yahia continued to build on Carolina’s lead in the 57th minute when he took advantage of a mistake by the Winthrop keeper, scoring from nearly 30 yards out.
Winthrop got on the board in the 66th minute, but Carolina stifled the momentum just three minutes later with freshman Grant Mateer’s first career goal, marking the first time the Gamecocks have scored six-plus goals at home since 2021.
With just 40 seconds remaining in the game, Einar Ness sunk the final goal of the night off a pair of perfect passes from Yahia and Jonah Biggar.
Freshman Filip Versterre made one save on the night in goal for Carolina
The Gamecocks will continue its homestand when they host North Florida August 25 at 3 p.m.
For the latest on men’s soccer, visit GamecocksOnline.com or follow the team’s social media accounts on Twitter @GamecockMSoccer, Facebook /GamecockMSoccer, and Instagram @GamecockMSoccer.
