Carolina Logs Sixth-Straight Win, 2-1, vs. Marshall
Oct. 2, 2016
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COLUMBIA, S.C. South Carolina (7-3 overall, 2-0 C-USA) won its sixth-straight match Sunday night after downing Marshall (5-6 overall, 1-2 C-USA) 2-1 in C-USA play at Stone Stadium. Senior striker Danny Deakin rocketed home the game-winner in the 79th minute from 25-yards out on a free kick.
The Gamecocks struck first in the match when sophomore Bjorn Gudjonsson headed in a cross from fellow sophomore Trygve Ellingstad in the 38th minute. The goal was Gudjonsson’s third in the last two games. Ellingstad recorded his first assist of the season on the score.
Matt McManis provided the highlight of the night defensively for the Gamecocks when he slid in front of an empty net to knock out a Marshall shot at the goal off a deflection midway through the first half.
The Thundering Herd got on the board in the 55th minute when Daniel Jodah broke by the Carolina defense and scored on a shot to the far post from nine-yards out.
Deakin lined up for a free kick in the 79th minute and booted a gorgeous bending shot to the top right corner of the goal that proved to be the game-winner for the Gamecocks.
Goalkeeper William Pyle improved to 7-1 on the season with the win. He tallied two saves in the match.
Carolina improved to 2-0 in conference play with the win and sits alone atop the C-USA standings.
The Gamecocks honored military members of past and present Sunday night as it was Heroes Night Out at Stone Stadium. A color guard presented the flag for the national anthem and several veterans, along with their families, were honored with the team during the starting lineups prior to the match.
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Mark Berson on Heroes Night Out: “It was wonderful. I think it was great. We had the servicemen in our locker room before the game, and they went around and shook hands with all of our players. The guys just spontaneously broke out in a big, big applause for them. It was really, really good. Again, we can’t begin to thank the servicemen and women that put their lives on the line for our country every day.”
GAMECHANGER
Deakin’s bender on a free kick late in the match that found the back of the net propelled Carolina to the conference win.
KEY STAT
Carolina outshot Marshall in the second half 9-5, including a 3-1 advantage in shots on goal.
NOTABLE
- Senior midfielder Danny Deakin leads the team in points with 14 (5G, 4A) after recording his team-leading fifth goal of the season Sunday night. He also leads the team with three game-winning goals.
- Junior goalkeeper William Pyle is now 7-1 on the year with 27 saves.
- In the last four games, South Carolina has tallied 11 goals with eight different players finding the back of the net.
- Deakin leads the team in shots with 35. Freshman forward Luca Mayr is close behind Deakin with 34 shots. Mayr leads the team in shots on goal with 16 and Deakin is second with 14.
- Sophomore Bjorn Gudjonsson has tallied three goals in the past two games, two of which he headed in for the score.
UP NEXT
The Gamecocks are off during the middle week and return to action next Saturday night as they take on C-USA foe Florida International on the road in Miami. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Carolina opened conference play on the road back on Sept. 17 when they downed Florida Atlantic, 1-0, in Boca Raton.
