Gamecock Men's Soccer Takes on Challenging 2016 Schedule
June 7, 2016
Schedule (PDF) | Schedule (HTML) | GamecocksOnline.com/Tickets
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The 38th edition of the South Carolina men’s soccer team faces a challenging slate of foes, as head coach Mark Berson announces the schedule for the fall of 2016 today.
In total, South Carolina faces eight teams that made last year’s NCAA Tournament, including hosting the top two seeds from last year’s event. Also, last year’s top two teams in Conference USA, Kentucky and Charlotte, both come to Columbia, both representing the only losses the Gamecocks suffered in C-USA action last season.
“We are excited about the 2016 schedule and particularly the great matches we have at home,” said Berson, the only coach in program history. “We hope to build on last year’s undefeated home schedule with another good run. Our fan support at home is tremendous, and we always want to give them our best. Last year, we were again in the top 10 in attendance nationally, and we lead Conference USA in attendance. Stone Stadium is one of the `places of heritage’ in American collegiate soccer, and we look forward to another good season.”
The Gamecocks open the year with its archrival Clemson on Fri., Aug. 26 at Stone Stadium. South Carolina will look to continue its four-match home winning streak in the series, taking three shutouts in the stretch. That begins the 10-match home schedule at Stone Stadium, a place the Gamecocks did not lose a contest at in 2015.
Mercer (Aug. 30) and Rutgers continue the home schedule, both of whom finished third in their league. The Scarlet Knights made the NCAA Tournament out of the Big Ten and play in the only afternoon match of the year for the Gamecocks, a 4 p.m. kickoff on Fri., Sept. 2 as part of a doubleheader with the Gamecock women’s team.
Three of the next five matches see South Carolina take on members of the Sun Belt, including NCAA Tournament participant Coastal Carolina in its first year in the league on Sept. 9 in Conway, S.C. Georgia Southern (Sept. 13) and Georgia State (Sept. 24) both come to Columbia for 7 p.m. showdowns. Also in that stretch is the Gamecocks’ Conference USA opener on the road at Florida Atlantic (Sept. 17) and a rematch of last year’s NCAA Tournament first-round match between South Carolina and Furman at the northern Stone Stadium in Greenville, S.C., on Sept. 20. Closing out September is a Sept. 28 meeting against High Point in Columbia.
October puts the Gamecocks squarely in Conference USA play, hosting Marshall (Oct. 2), UAB (Oct. 15) and Charlotte (Oct. 26) while playing at FIU (Oct. 8), Old Dominion (Oct. 22) and New Mexico (Oct. 30). In the middle of that conference slate, South Carolina hosts last year’s top seed in the NCAA Tournament and defending Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season champ Wake Forest on Tues., Oct. 18. Conference USA play concludes on Fri., Nov. 4, when Kentucky comes to Stone Stadium.
The Gamecocks begin the year with three exhibitions, facing North Carolina (Aug. 15) and College of Charleston (Aug. 21) on the road while hosting Winthrop in between on Thurs., Aug. 18. Both the Tar Heels and Eagles made the NCAA Tournament last year.
For the third consecutive year, South Carolina will offer a combined season ticket for both the men’s and women’s soccer schedules. For $25 for adults and $10 for children 17 and under, purchasers can attend any of the 10 men’s or 10 women’s matches at Stone Stadium. Get yours today at GamecocksOnline.com/Tickets.
