Gamecocks Dominate Eagles 3-0 on Senior Night
COLUMBIA, S.C. – In the final match of the regular season, the South Carolina men’s soccer team (10-4-2, 5-4) defeated Georgia Southern (6-6-4, 2-5-2) 3-0 Tuesday night (Nov. 5). Prior to the match, Carolina honored its seven seniors: Gabriel Atienza, Jack Burgess, Wyatt Kistner, Harrison Myring, Sonny Quintanilla, Sebastian Reventlow-Mourier, and Martin Yahia.
On the night, Georgia Southern out-shot the Gamecocks 18-9, led 8-5 in shots on goal, and 9-1 in corner kicks. South Carolina goalkeeper Filip Versterre finished with a season-high eight saves.
Georgia Southern set the tone early, firing off back-to-back shots in the 2nd minute, but were turned away by Versterre. In the first fifteen, the Eagles looked to spring on the counterattack, but the South Carolina defense held strong.
In the 24th minute, Filip Versterre made a diving kick save. The ball bounced to Jonah Biggar, who cleared it down field. Biggar cleared the ball past midfield where Myring beat his defender and was able to chip the Georgia Southern keeper. The goal was his team-leading 10th of the season, the most by a Gamecock since 2015.
The second half opened with Georgia Southern on the front foot, pushing the offensive attack looking for the equalizer. The Eagles looked to have caught a break when a penalty kick was awarded, however, it was overturned by VAR.
South Carolina was able to capitalize on a counterattack down the left wing in the 65th minute. Ethan Ballek hit a pass to Sonny Quintanilla on the left wing. He would square a pass across the face of goal which was turned in by Jack Burgess on a rocket shot. The goal was the first of the season for Burgess.
The night was capped off by another counterattack goal from South Carolina in the 84th minute, as Grant Mateer lifted the ball into the top right corner. It was Mateer’s second goal of the season.
The Gamecocks finish the regular season in a three-way tie for third but will be the No. 5 seed in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. They will play No. 4 seed Kentucky Sunday at 7 p.m. in the quarterfinals, hosted by West Virginia.
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.
