Early Goal Powers Gamecocks Past Chanticleers

CONWAY, S.C. – The South Carolina men’s soccer team (6-1-2, 1-1) earned their first Sun Belt Conference victory of the season Saturday night (Sept. 28), as the Gamecocks went on the road and defeated Coastal Carolina (2-6, 1-1) 2-1.

The Chanticleers led in the match 21-to-10 in shots and 8-to-2 in shots on goals, while Carolina led in corner kicks 5-4. Filip Versterre tied a season-high with six saves for the Gamecocks.

South Carolina went on the attack to being the match, scoring in the fourth minute. It’s the second straight game where Carolina has scored in under four minutes. Harrison Myring dribbled up the left side of the field, nearly to the end line, before getting off a beautiful pass that went between the goalkeeper’s legs, and right to the foot of Alejandro Velazquez-Lopez. He would have a wide-open net where he buried it home for his fourth goal of the season.

That’s how the score would remain until the 85th minute. Ethan Ballek stole the ball away near the midfield, got past a pair of defenders, and scored from just inside the 18-yard box. The goal is his team-leading seventh of the season. He has now scored in four consecutive matches.

Coastal Carolina’s lone goal came on a penalty kick in the 88th minute.

South Carolina returns home to host Kentucky October 4 at 7 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.