Gamecocks Close Season With, 3-2, Win at FIU
Aiken native Mitchell Myers tallied a career-high four points (1G, 2A)
MIAMI, Fla. – South Carolina (7-10-0, 2-6-0 C-USA) finished the 2018 season with a, 3-2, road win at FIU (7-9-0, 5-3-0 C-USA) in conference play Friday night. Sophomore defender Mitchell Myers led the Gamecocks to victory with four points (1G, 2A) as he had a hand in all three of the team’s goals.
“This was a really good win for our guys tonight,” said head coach Mark Berson. “I was really proud of the way our guys came out and took the game to FIU in the first half. Credit FIU, they came back and got close to tying it in the end. I’m very proud of our team. They never gave up this season and they fought hard every time they came out on the field.”
Carolina dominated possession the first half and led, 2-0, at the break. Junior striker Tucker Monheimer got the scoring going in the 29th minute, knocking one in from close range to the near post. Myers whipped a beautiful cross right into the six, and Monheimer finished with ease for his fourth goal of the season (career-high).
The Gamecocks struck again in the 42nd minute as Myers lined up a free kick from the top corner of the 18. He sent a bending ball far post and senior defender Paul Quildies headed it in for his second career goal to put Carolina ahead, 2-0, just before halftime. Myers connected with Quidlies for the Essen, Germany, native’s first career goal earlier this season on a corner kick in the first half of the team’s 2-1 victory at No. 19 Virginia Tech (Oct. .
Carolina kept the offensive pressure on with five shots in the first 20 minutes of the second half. Myers drew a foul inside the box in the 68th minute. He took the ensuing penalty shot, fooling the FIU keeper with a stutter step wind up. The Aiken, S.C., native’s first career PK pushed the Gamecocks’ lead to, 3-0.
The Panthers cut the lead to 3-1 with a goal in the 71st minute. They closed the gap even further with another goal on a close-range header in the 86th minute. The Gamecocks didn’t allow any more chances after that, holding on for the hard-fought, 3-2, road win.
Tonight’s victory marks the 497th career win for head coach Mark Berson in 41 seasons at South Carolina. His 507 career wins rank fourth all-time in NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer.
The Gamecocks’ five seniors (Peyton Ericson, Bjorn Gudjonsson, Ian McGrane, Andre Streete and Paul Quildies) played their final matches in Garnet and Black tonight in Miami.
Carolina will miss out on the Conference USA Tournament next week in Charlotte for just the third time since joining the league as an affiliate member in 2005.
