Aug. 20, 2011
Aug. 20, 2011 • Columbia, S.C.
| Team | 1st | 2nd | Total |
| Elon | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| South Carolina | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Coach Berson |
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The 15th ranked Gamecock men’s soccer team posted a 1-1 tie with Elon in exhibition action at Stone Stadium on Saturday evening. After Elon held a 1-0 lead at the half, senior midfielder Stephen Morrissey scored for Carolina in the 54th minute on an assist from sophomore forward Bradlee Baladez to even the match in the second half.
Carolina held an 11-10 overall advantage in shots, including a 10-5 upperhand in the second half. Morrissey, sophomore forward Chipper Root and freshman forward Snoopy Davidson each registered two shots for Carolina in the match. Leading Elon offensively was midfielder Daniel Lovitz with four shots and one assist, while junior forward JordanDefensively for the Gamecocks, redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Alex Long earned his first-career start in net. He collected one save in the match, playing the entire 90 minutes. Elon counterparts Reed Dillard and Nathan Dean each played one half in goal, with Dillard collecting one save, and Dean three saves, while allowing one goal.
Both team’s had their offensive chances in the opening half and both team’s played with an offensive mind, as the Gamecocks drew four offsides calls in the match and Elon five. Baladez had Carolina’s lone shot of the opening half at the five-minute mark. The sophomore hit a bullet towards the far post, but Dillard held his line for the save.
Back and forth play followed before Elon was the first to mark the scoreboard in the 42nd minute. Lovitz took a ball down the left sideline and hit a cross into the six-yard box to Smith who hit a one-touch shot, which hit the crossbar before bouncing in for the Elon goal.
The score held through halftime and nearly 10 minutes into the second half before Morrissey scored the equalizer. Baladez hit a corner kick towards the near post on target and Morrissey redirected the cross with a header past Dean for the goal.
Due to the contest being an exhibition, the teams did not play any overtime and the score ended in a 1-1 tie.
South Carolina begins the 2011 regular season next Friday when it travels to face College of Charleston in a nationally-televised contest on Fox Soccer Channel. Kick off for the match is set for 6 p.m. ET.
