Aug 23, 2013
@GamecockMSoccer | Gamecock Men’s Soccer on Facebook | Stone Stadium
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina men’s soccer team wraps up its 2013 exhibition play against Elon on Saturday at Eugene E. Stone II Stadium. Game time is set for 7 p.m. and admission is free. Free and live audio are available via Gamecocksonline.com.
Just five days into the preseason, the Gamecocks faced Mercer in their first exhibition contest of the season. South Carolina came away with a 1-0 win courtesy of a tally from junior forward Asa Kryst in the 54th minute after a nearly hour-long rain delay.
South Carolina returns 15 letterwinners and four starters from the 2012 squad, including junior preseason All-Conference USA honoree Braeden Troyer. Mark Berson is entering his 36th season as the Gamecocks’ head coach.
In 2012, Elon captured its second-consecutive Southern Conference Tournament title, sweeping the league’s regular-season and tournament crown on their way to the 2012 NCAA Tournament. With 20 players returning, Elon was selected to finish second in the Southern Conference preseason poll earlier this month.
A pair of Phoenix senior midfielders in Daniel Lovitz and Matt Wescoe along with junior goalkeeper Nathan Dean were named preseason all-conference by league coaches. Wescoe is Elon’s returning leading scorer tallying 19 points on six goals and seven assists. Dean played every minute in goal during the 2012 season, posting seven shutouts, including three against ranked opponents.
In their first exhibition contest of the season last weekend, the Phoenix held No. 4 North Carolina scoreless in the first half, but ultimately fell to the Tar Heels 3-0.
Last year, the Gamecocks defeated Elon 2-0 in exhibition play at Stone Stadium on a pair of Bradlee Baladez goals.
The Gamecocks open the regular season at Stone Stadium on Friday, Aug. 30, against East Tennessee State at 7 p.m.
Season tickets for men’s soccer, which includes admission to all home games, are currently on sale in the Gamecock Ticket Office. Fans can purchase tickets online at GamecocksOnline.com, or by calling 1-800-4SC-FANS. Cost for season tickets for men’s soccer is $25 for adults and $10 for youth (17 and under).
