Oct. 22, 2011

Final Stats

MIAMI, Fla. – The South Carolina men’s soccer team earned a 4-3 win in a high scoring match in Conference USA play at FIU on Saturday night. The win improves the Gamecocks’ overall record to 8-5-1, and their C-USA record to a league leading 5-1-0 on the year. FIU falls to 4-8-3, 1-5-1 C-USA with the loss. Freshman midfielder Braeden Troyer scored the second game winner of his career, while Kevin Stam, Mike Mangotic and Bradlee Baladez also tallied goals for the Gamecocks.

“This was a big win for us in conference play,” South Carolina head coach Mark Berson said. “I’m extremely proud of our team tonight. We came back and found a way to win the game. Good teams find a way to win no matter what the fortunes of the game throw at them. Tonight we had a lead which was whittled away by a very good, hard fighting FIU team, and our team found a way to win in the end. I’m very proud of the win, that quality in our team and it’s the mark of a team that has the potential to go a long way.”

South Carolina held an 18-11 upperhand in shots in the match, including an 8-7 upperhand in shots on goal. Baladez scored his team leading seventh goal of the season, Stam posted his second, Mangotic tallied his first and Troyer scored his fifth goal of his freshman campaign. Baladez has now scored in all six of South Carolina’s C-USA matches this season.

Sophomore defender Trevor Hubbard collected his third assist of the season, and Mangotic also earned an assist, his fourth of the year. Colby Burdette tallied two goals for the Panthers and Nicolas Rodriguez contributed one.

South Carolina goalkeeper Alex Long collected four saves, while two FIU goalkeepers saw action in the contest, with Rodney Greiling collecting two saves, allowing three goals, and Eric Reyes collecting two saves, while allowing one goal in the second half.

Stam gave South Carolina an early lead in the sixth minute, scoring as the result of a long throw in from Mangotic for a 1-0 Carolina upperhand. Gamecock scoring continued, as Mangotic marked the scoreboard just eight minutes later on the assist from Hubbard to push the lead to 2-0.

Baladez would score on an unassisted tally in the 21st minute, before FIU scored its first goal of the match on a goal by Rodriguez in the 33rd minute. Rodriguez’s tally was a strong shot into the upper right corner of frame. Scoring continued, as Burdette pulled the Panthers within one goal at the halftime break on a score in the 37th minute.

The second half saw FIU even the match in the 76th minute on Burdette’s second tally of the match. Back and forth play followed with both goalkeepers earning saves to hold the tie.

Troyer scored the game winner with just over six minutes remaining in the contest on a rebound in front of goal. Mangotic hit a shot that was deflected by Reyes and Troyer connected on a one-time shot into the back of the net for the deciding 4-3 South Carolina upperhand.

South Carolina returns to Stone Stadium to host No. 2 North Carolina on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET. Gamecock head coach Mark Berson will aim for his 450th career victory in the match.