Gamecocks Host USC Upstate Saturday Night
Second of five consecutive home games for Carolina
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina (3-9-0, 0-5-0 C-USA) plays host to USC Upstate (3-8-1, 3-3-1 Big South) on Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET at Stone Stadium, with the gates opening one hour prior.
“USC Upstate comes into our match on Saturday night off a two-game unbeaten streak,” said head coach Mark Berson. “They are a team who is on a roll. I’m glad we are at home and we look forward to the challenge. Every match is critical for us down the stretch.”
The game against the Spartans marks a stretch of four consecutive home matches for the Gamecocks the next two weeks. Two of the four are conference games (UAB – Oct. 26, Marshall – Oct. 30).
It’s Take a Kid to the Game Night on Saturday against Upstate. Fans will receive a FREE youth ticket with the purchase of an adult ticket. All Read With The Gamecocks participations are invited to come to the match as well.
SCOUTING USC UPSTATE
Upstate comes into The Graveyard fresh off a 2-2 draw at Longwood on Tuesday (Oct. 16) night. The Spartans defeated Presbyterian at home prior to that last Saturday (Oct. 13). Cam Philpot leads the team with 13 points (6G, 1A). He also leads the team with 32 shots and 19 shots on goal. Francis Eto leads Upstate with three assists. Nine different players have scored for the Spartans. Upstate has been outscored by opponents 33-17 so far during the 2018 season. Andrea Boniva has started eight of the team’s 12 matches, posting a 3-6-1 record in goal. He’s made 60 saves (.690 save percentage), allowed 27 goals (2.65 GAA) and posted one shutout.
BUZZER BEATER
Junior striker Luca Mayr scored the game-winning goal to knock-off No. 19 Virginia Tech, 2-1, in double overtime on the road in Blacksburg on Oct. 2. Sophomore Mitchell Myers intercepted a pass just inside midfield with time dwindling on the clock and found Mayr on the far sideline. The Steyr, Austria, native laced a shot from 30-yards out on target and found the back of the net far post with 19.4 seconds to go.
FOUR GOALS IN FOUR MINUTES
In South Carolina’s 5-0 shutout win against Wofford (Sept. 19), the Gamecocks scored four times in a 4 minute and 15 second stretch midway through the second half to break the game wide open. All five goals were scored by different players and two were unassisted.
It marked the most goals scored in a match by Carolina since a 5-4 win at FIU on Oct. 8, 2014. It’s also the 75th time the Gamecocks have scored five goals or more in the program’s 41 seasons of competition. The 5-0 score marked the widest margin of victory in a shutout since a 5-0 win at home against Gardner-Webb on Oct. 15, 2001.
NO. 5 IN HOME ATTENDANCE
Through games played on Oct. 14, the Gamecocks rank fifth in the country in attendance average at 3,033 fans per game. Two of Carolina’s first three games this season currently rank in the top-15 for single-game attendance.
The season-opening crowd vs. No. 13 Georgetown (Aug. 24) drew 4,844 fans, the 10th largest crowd in NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer in 2018. The Gamecocks’ annual rivalry game against Clemson (Aug. 31) drew 4,441 fans, the 14th biggest crowd. South Carolina welcomed 12,937 fans combined for its first three matches of the season (4,312 avg.).
OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
The South Carolina men’s soccer team supported Ovarian Cancer Awareness all month long in September by wearing teal warmup jerseys for their matches. In addition to the teal warm up jerseys, the Gamecock coaching staff and support staff wore teal polo shirts.
The team is promoting awareness for this cancer and encourages women to get regular checkups. Contact your local ovarian cancer support group for more information at 888-682-7426 or visit the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition’s website at http://www.ovarian.org. Remember, NO ONE FIGHTS ALONE!
UP NEXT
The Gamecocks face Georgia State (8-4-1, 1-0-1 Sun Belt) on Tuesday night (Oct. 23). It’s Camper Reunion Night at The Graveyard. All Mark Berson Soccer Campers receive $1 admission to the game if they wear their camp shirts.
