Men's Soccer Announces 2017 Schedule
May 26, 2017
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina men’s soccer team announced its 2017 schedule on Friday morning. The Gamecocks tough slate features matches against eight teams that made the NCAA Tournament in 2016.
“Each year we play a very challenging schedule which we believe will prepare us for our conference tournament and the NCAA Tournament,” head coach Mark Berson said. “This year is no exception. Of our 17 matches, eight of them are against teams that appeared in the NCAA Tournament. Seven of the eight were either seeded going into it and advanced to the second round or further.”
The 2017 season kicks off with three exhibition matches at Duke (Aug. 13), vs. North Carolina (Aug. 17) and vs. College of Charleston (Aug. 20). The season opener is slated for Friday, August 25, at Stone Stadium versus Georgia Southern at 5 p.m. Carolina will host Mercer the following Monday at 5 p.m. in a rematch of last year’s first round NCAA game, which the Gamecocks won 1-0 to advance to the round of 32.
South Carolina will hit the road to face instate rival Clemson on Friday, September 1, in the annual Palmetto Series matchup. The Gamecocks season ended last year at Riggs Field when they dropped a 2-1 decision late in the second round to the third-seeded Tigers.
The Conference USA opener is slated for Saturday, September 9, at 7 p.m. when Carolina welcomes FAU to The Graveyard. The Owls are led by former assistant coach and player Joey Worthen, who is entering his first season as head coach.
Several tough road matches are featured on this year’s schedule with trips to Kentucky, Charlotte and Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons (No. 2), 49ers (No. 16) and Wildcats (No. 23) were all ranked in the final NSCAA Coaches Poll at the end of the season last year. Wake Forest lost in the NCAA Championship match to Stanford in a penalty kick shootout after a 0-0 draw.
The Gamecocks face two more opponents from the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2017, with a home match vs. Virginia Tech (Oct. 3) and a road battle at North Carolina State (Oct. 24). The Hokies finished the season ranked No. 8 after reaching the Elite Eight.
Carolina’s regular season ends with two conference matches vs. Old Dominion (Oct. 29) and at UAB (Nov. 3) This year’s C-USA Tournament will take place Nov. 8-12 in Norfolk, Va., hosted by ODU. The Gamecocks will look to return to the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive year in 2017, marking the program’s 23rd appearance all-time.
For the fourth consecutive year, South Carolina will offer a combined season ticket for both the men’s and women’s soccer programs. For $25 for adults and $10 for children 17 and under, season ticket holders receive admission to every regular season men’s and women’s match at Stone Stadium this fall. Get yours today at GamecocksOnline.com/Tickets.
