Aug. 21, 2016

CHARLESTON, S.C. -— No. 24 South Carolina suffered a 2-0 loss at College of Charleston on Sunday evening in the final exhibition contest of the 2016 campaign. Senior Koty Millard led the Gamecocks with three shots in the contest.

Charleston’s Nico Rittmeyer scored the first of his two goals just two minutes into the match on a shot from within the penalty area. Millard forced CofC goalkeeper Kevin Shields to make a save just minutes later, as his shot on goal in the sixth minute nearly tied the contest. Rittmeyer scored his second goal of the match also from inside the box in the 35th minute and the score stood at the half.

Neither team marked the scoreboard in the second half, as Millard tallied his second shot on frame in the 56th minute, but Shields was there for the save. Overall in the contest, Gamecock goalkeeper Marco Velez collected seven saves, while playing 73 minutes in frame.

Quotable

Head Coach Mark Berson:
“This was our final scrimmage of the preseason and it was not our best. We have a lot of work to do before we open. We will get right to work tomorrow.”

GAMECHANGER

South Carolina would have three shots on goal, but the Cougars would have 10 shots on frame.

KEY STAT

South Carolina goalkeeper Marco Velez collected seven saves in the contest.

NOTABLE

• 20 Gamecocks saw time on the pitch against the Cougars, including both Marco Velez and William Pyle in goal.
• Sunday’s contest marked Carolina’s third exhibition of the fall. The Gamecocks posted a 1-1 tie vs. No. 8 North Carolina on Aug. 15, and followed last Thursday with a 3-2 win vs. Winthrop.

UP NEXT

No. 24 South Carolina begins the 2016 regular season at Stone Stadium next Friday, Aug. 26, when it hosts No. 3 Clemson at 7 p.m. A reminder that South Carolina Athletics’ new clear bag policy will be in effect for all home matches.