No. 25 Gamecocks Downed 2-1 On The Road By Lobos
Oct. 30, 2016
COLUMBIA, S.C. — No. 25 South Carolina (9-6-1 overall, 4-2-1 C-USA) dropped a 2-1 decision on the road Sunday night in C-USA play to New Mexico (9-6-1 overall, 3-3-1 C-USA). Niko Hansen scored the game-winner for the Lobos in the 66th minute.
New Mexico struck first late in the first half of the match when Chris Wehan split the Carolina defense and fired a left booted shot for a goal in the 33rd minute. It was Wehan’s fifth goal of the season.
The Gamecocks. who were unable to find their groove offensively all night, trailed 1-0 at the break. New Mexico held a 8-3 advantage in shots and a 1-0 edge in shots on goal.
Carolina was able to even the score at 1-1 in the early goings of the second half as Bjorn Gudjonsson headed in a cross from senior Ive Burnett in the 58th minute. Burnett launched a beautiful ball into the box from 30-yards out for his second assist of the season. The goal was Gudjonsson’s sixth, which ranks second on the team.
The Lobos were able to answer quickly as Niko Hansen got a Carolina defender off balance with some fancy footwork, opening a path at the net that he was able to finish for the goal. Hansen leads C-USA in points (21) and goals (10),
The Gamecocks best chance to even the score back up came on a corner kick in the 74th minute. Luca Mayr took aim perfectly at the far post as Kurtis Turner flew in and took a sliding shot on goal. Jason Beaulieu made a spectacular save on the shot by Turner that ricocheted off the post.
Mayr, the team’s shot leader on the season, would have two chances in the final 10 minutes that both missed high.
Goalkeeper William Pyle was able to keep Carolina within striking distance in the second half, logging five saves in period two. The Charlotte, N.C., native finished the night with six saves as his record fell to 9-4-1 on the year.
South Carolina is now tied with FIU for third in the conference at 4-2-1 with 13 points. The Gamecocks host Kentucky Friday night. With a win, Carolina will likely be the No. 2 seed in the C-USA Tournament.
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Mark Berson on the match: “Tonight was another tough conference game. We showed a lot of character coming from behind to get the equalizer. New Mexico was sharper tonight in the box where it really counts. They have a good team. Our guys have a lot of pride and they are disappointed tonight, but we need to get back, regenerate and get ready for Kentucky on Friday.”
GAMECHANGER
Hansen’s goal, which turned out to be the game-winner, halted Carolina’s momentum just eight minutes after it had tied the score.
KEY STAT
The Gamecocks were outshot 18-7 overall and 8-2 in shots on goal. The two shots on goal were a season-low.
NOTABLE
- Sophomore midfielder Bjorn Gudjonsson tallied his sixth goal of the season Sunday night. Gudjonsson is second on the team in points with 13 (6G, 1A).
- Junior goalkeeper William Pyle is now 9-4-1 on the year with 52 saves and four shutouts. He posted six saves in the match.
- Freshman forward Luca Mayr led South Carolina in shots with two.
- Senior defender Ive Burnett posted his second assist of the year on the Gudjonsson goal.
UP NEXT
South Carolina host No. 14 Kentucky in the team’s regular season finale on Senior Night at Stone Stadium, Friday, November 4. The Gamecocks will honor their seven seniors prior to the match. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at The Graveyard.
