Banahan Sends Gamecocks To Overtime Victory Over USC Upstate
Carolina earns multiple overtime victories in season for the first time since 2014
COLUMBIA, S.C. —- South Carolina men’s soccer earned its second-consecutive overtime victory with a 1-0 shutout of USC Upstate on Friday night at Stone Stadium. Freshman Brian Banahan’s finish at the 99th minute thanks to the Logan Frost assist provided the Gamecocks with another exciting extra-time finish to remain undefeated at home in the early season.
Both teams fought through a physical match that saw a combined six yellow cards handed out but in the end Carolina’s young group possessed the poise and determination to come away with the hard-earned victory.
With the win, Carolina earned multiple overtime victories in a season for the first time since 2014 when it won four. It marks just the sixth time since 2000 the program has done so.
“I’m proud of our guys,” head coach Mark Berson said. “Back-to-back overtime wins. We’ve got a lot of guys out with injury and we lost another guy tonight. That just makes the guys who are on have to carry that much more of a load and when you’re faced with overtime you have to carry even that much more, and our guys did it.”
Transfer Buenyamin Yusufoglu shined once more for the Gamecocks in goal. Along with earning his first shutout as a Gamecock, Yusufoglu entered the match as the nation’s leader in saves-per match. He had an additional four more tonight.
Carolina out-shot the Spartans 15-8 in the match and earned six corners in contrast to thee for USC Upstate. The Spartans were given 17 fouls while Carolina had 16.
With the win the Gamecocks improved to 2-1 on the season while Upstate dropped to 0-2. Carolina is now just two wins away from 500 as a program.
Once again, fans can get the best deal in town for season tickets. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for youth and get you into ALL 20 soccer matches at Stone Stadium this fall. To purchase, visit gamecocksonline.com/soccertix.
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SCORING SUMMARY
Brian Banahan, Carolina (99′)
ASSIST SUMMARY
Logan Frost, Carolina (’99)
