Carolina Host FAU in C-USA Opener Saturday Night
Sept. 8, 2017
Men’s Soccer vs. FAU
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina (3-1-0) kicks off Conference USA play under the lights Saturday night at Stone Stadium versus FAU (0-3-0). The match begins at 7p.m. and will be telecast on SEC Network Plus through WatchESPN.
The Owls are led by former Gamecock player (1998-2001) and assistant coach (2012-16) Joey Worthen. As a player, Worthen was a part of three NCAA Tournament teams and 50 wins. As a coach, he was a part of two NCAA Tournament teams and 39 wins.
Fans are encouraged to wear teal to the match to help raise awareness for ovarian cancer. All military personnel and their families receive free admission to the match, a season-long promotion this year at all home Carolina soccer matches on Saturdays.
FROM THE COACH
“It’s a big match. It’s our conference opener, which is huge. I think we’ve played enough good competition now where we should have a pretty good idea of where we are. That’s important at this point. In a conference match, everything’s just a little bit tighter. There’s a little bit more anxiety and tension. That’ll be interesting to see how we play through that on Saturday night.” — head coach Mark Berson
SCOUTING FAU
The Owls return 17 players from a team that went 4-10-1 overall last year and 2-6-0 in conference play. Of the players back, only four of them scored goals a season ago. FAU has 11 newcomers on their roster. Sophomore midfielder Carlos Sanchis has scored both goals for the Owls in their three games so far this season. Sanchis and Danny Del Rio are tied for the team lead in shots (6) and shots on goal (2). Sophomore Daniel Ragoo has started the team’s first three matches of the year. He’s made 15 saves (.714 save percentage) and has posted a 1.91 goals against average, allowing six scores on the year. The Owls opened the year with a 3-2 loss at N.C. State on Aug. 25. They’re we’re shutout 1-0 by College of Charleston in a double overtime defeat. In its last outing, FAU fell 2-0 to NJIT on Sept. 3 in Boca Raton.
UP NEXT
The Gamecocks have no midweek game for the first time in the 2017 season. They’ll hit the road in conference play over the weekend, squaring off with Marshall in Huntington, W. Va. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET next Saturday. A live stream will be available for fans on CUSAtv.
