Men's Soccer . September 27, 2024

Gamecocks Hit the Road for Conference Match Saturday Night

South Carolina Gamecocks (5-1-2, 0-1)

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (2-5, 1-0)

Sep 28, 2024 | 7:00 pm Conway, S.C. | CCU Soccer Stadium

TV: ESPN+

ONLINE:

Live Stats

CONWAY, S.C. – The South Carolina men’s soccer team hits the road for the first time in Sun Belt Conference play when the Gamecocks travel to in-state foe Coastal Carolina Saturday night (Sept. 28) for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

Gameday Information – #WEareCarolina
When: September 28 | 7 p.m.
Where: Conway, S.C.
Venue: CCU Soccer Stadium (1,500)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Series History: Costal Carolina leads 10-4-2
Last Meeting: South Carolina 4, Coastal Carolina 3 | Oct. 27, 2023 | Columbia, S.C.

Taking the Pitch

This will be the 17th meeting between the Gamecocks and Chanticleers.
South Carolina won the meeting last year, while they tied in 2022.
The Chanticleers won six straight between 2002 and 2014.
The Gamecocks have never won in Conway, with two ties coming in 1980 and 2022.
Over the least three years, the series is tied 1-1-1.

Quick Notes

Carolina led the nation last season in attendance (4,306) for the second straight season.
That looks to continue this season with already having the second and third largest crowds in program history this season.
- 6,622 attended the season opener vs Winthrop (8/22) and 6,400 vs Clemson (8/30). Those matches rank 1st and 2nd in the nation for single-game attendance this season. The Marshall and USC Upstate matches also rank in the top-10.
All eight home matches rank in the NCAA top-30 for single-game on-campus attendance.
Carolina played its 500th all-time match at the Graveyard against Belmont (9/7).
Carolina had its six match unbeaten streak end against #10 Marshall.
- It was the longest unbeaten streak to start a season since winning seven straight to begin the 2003 season.
- It was the longest unbeaten streak at any point since going eight straight in 2016.
The Gamecocks rank second in the nation in scoring offense and goal differential, third in total goals, fifth in shots on goal per game, sixth in points per game, seventh in shot accuracy, and ninth in total points.
Harrison Myring ranks 14th in the nation in goals per game.
Myring and Ethan Ballek rank 14th in total goals.
Ballek ranks 10th in points, 11th in shot accuracy, 12th in points per game, 15th in shots per game, and 18th in goals per game.
Alejandro Velazquez-Lopez ranks 15th in game-winning goals.
Harrison Myring scored a brace against USC Upstate and now has five on the season, which is tied for ninth in the nation.
Andrew Goldsworthy was named the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week on 8/10.
Carolina’s match against Jacksonville was suspended in the 50th minute. The match needed to go 70 minutes to become official, as the two teams will look to try to resume it at a later date.
Carolina has earned a point in its first three matches for the first time since 2014.
Harrison Myring has scored in each of the first three matches the season, the first player to do so since Brian Banahan during the spring 2021 season.
The seven goals scored by Carolina in the season opener were the most in a match since scoring eight goals against the Citadel in the 1999 season opener on Sept. 1.
The 27 shots attempted by the Gamecocks were the most since also taking 27 shots against Georgia Southern on Sept. 13, 2016.
- Carolina had 21 shots on goal on the night. Although program records are not kept, that is the most in a match since at least 1999.
Ethan Ballek notched five points (two goals, one assist) in the season opener.
- His goals came back-to-back, in the 34th and 40th minutes.
- Ballek led the way with nine shots, becoming the first player since Sam Arthur on Sept. 2, 2008, against Presbyterian to put up nine shots in a match.
Harrison Myring, Alejandro Velazquez-Lopez, Martin Yahia, Grant Mateer, and Einar Ness also scored.
- It was the first collegiate goal for Velazquez-Lopez, Mateer, and Ness.
This is the 47th season of South Carolina men’s soccer.
The Gamecocks have an all-time record of 532-288-87.
The Gamecocks begin their third season in the Sun Belt Conference.
Carolina was picked to finish sixth in the conference by the coaches.
The roster features many new faces from a season ago with 19 newcomers; 10 transfers and eight true freshmen.
They return five starters from a season ago, including three starters in the defensive end, and two midfielders.

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.