Carolina Men's Soccer Gets Back in Win Column Against Mercer
The Gamecocks closed out a four-match homestand with a 2-1 victory against Mercer
COLUMBIA—The South Carolina men’s soccer team snapped a four-match losing streak with a 2-1 victory against Mercer on Tuesday night at Stone Stadium.
“We’re happy to get the result, which is what we’ve been working toward in training,” head coach Tony Annan said. “The thing I’m happiest about is the guts they showed to get the result even when they were tired at the end.”
Logan Frost got the scoring going for the Gamecocks (2-5-0) in the 24th minute. Frost collected a redirected cross from Jordan Matthews, took a touch and sent the ball into the upper half of the goal past Trevor McMullin.
The Gamecocks would capitalize on another chance just 12 minutes later. Jared Gulden took the ball away at midfield for Carolina and ran toward the penalty box. After a couple of passes, Gulden got the ball back with a clean look at the net. Gulden then buried a goal for the first time in his collegiate career to give the Gamecocks a 2-0 lead in the 36th minute.
Mercer (3-4-0) did not let up easily. The Bears scored in the 75th minute. They took the ball away from Carolina in its attempt to switch field. Kadeem Agard stole a lazy pass in front of Carolina’s net and sent it Michael Ille who fired the ball past Ryan Bilichuk to cut the Gamecock lead to 2-1.
Mercer would find itself with a few chances in the final 15 minutes, including a free kick from just outside the penalty box. Bilichuk made a leaping save off the direct kick to keep the Gamecocks ahead 2-1 in the final minute. Immediately afterward, he secured a corner kick to seal the victory for Carolina.
Bilichuk started for the second consecutive match in goal for Carolina. He made two saves including what proved to be the game-sealing effort in the final minute.
With his goal in the 24th minute, Frost tied Peter Clement for the team lead in points this season with four. Matthews also became one of just four Gamecocks to have recorded at least one goal and one assist so far this season with his assist on Frost’s goal.
The Gamecocks return to action with a conference matchup against Charlotte at 7 p.m. on Saturday night in Charlotte, North Carolina.
