Gamecocks Take on North Florida Sunday Afternoon

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina men’s soccer team continues its season opening homestand when the Gamecocks host North Florida Sunday at 3 p.m.

TICKETS

Single-game tickets are now on sale. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for youth 17 and under, and $3 for groups of 15 or more (with pre-purchase). You can also purchase the Gamecock Go Pass for $20 a month. The subscription mobile pass will give you access to all non-conference home football games and all home games for men’s and women’s basketball*, baseball*, softball, men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball. You can also join the Men’s Soccer VIP Supporter Club for $100. In addition to free admission at all home regular season home games, members receive a limited-edition Under Armour hat and a soccer crest magnet.

PARKING

Gamecock fans will be able to utilize free parking in the grass lot located behind the Athletics Village Parking Garage (1300 Heyward Street) or at the Roost (201 South Marion). Fans will also have the option to park at any of the City of Columbia metered spots located around Stone Stadium (subject to fees required through the ParkMobile app). The Athletics Village Parking Garage will not be available.

Gameday Information – #WEareCarolina
When: August 25 | 3 p.m.
Where: Columbia, S.C.
Venue: Stone Stadium (5,700)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Series History: South Carolina leads 1-0-0
Last Meeting: South Carolina 1, North Florida 0 | Sept. 5, 2017 | Columbia, S.C.

South Carolina Gamecocks 1-0-0, 0-0-0 Sun Belt
Coach: Tony Annan | 4th Season – 17-26-9
Goal Leader: 2 | Ethan Ballek
Assist Leader: 1 | Four tied
Points Leader: 5 | Ethan Ballek
Shots Leader: 9 | Ethan Ballek
Saves Leader: 1 | Filip Versterre

North Florida Ospreys 0-1-0, 0-0-0 A-Sun
Coach: Jamie Davies | 1st Season
Goal Leader: none
Assist Leader: none
Points Leader: none
Shots Leader: 3 | Joaquin Acuna and David Perez
Saves Leader: 3 | Luciano Natoli

Taking the Pitch

• This will be the 2nd meeting between the Gamecocks and Osprey.
• Justin Sukow scored the game-winner in the 13th minute
• Carolina head coach Tony Annan and UNF head coach Jamie Davies have a history, as both previously working for Atlanta United.

Quick Notes

• Carolina led the nation last season in attendance (4,306) for the second straight season.
• That looks to continue this season as the second largest crowd in program history (6,622) attended the season opener Thursday night.
• The seven goals scored by Carolina in the season opener were the most in a match since scoring eight goals against the Citadel in the 1999 season opener on Sept. 1.
• The 27 shots attempted by the Gamecocks were the most since also taking 27 shots against Georgia Southern on Sept. 13, 2016.
  • Carolina has 21 shots on goal on the night. Although program records are not kept, it that is the most in a match since at least 1999.
• Ethan Ballek notched five points (two goals, one assist) in the season opener.
  • His goals came back-to-back, in the 34th and 40th minutes.
  • Ballek led the way with nine shots, becoming the first player since Sam Arthur on Sept. 2, 2008, against Presbyterian to put up nine shots in a match.
• Harrison Myring, Alejandro Velazquez-Lopez, Martin Yahia, Grant Mateer, and Einar Ness also scored.
  • It was the first collegiate goal for Velazquez-Lopez, Mateer, and Ness.
• This is the 47th season of South Carolina men’s soccer.
• The Gamecocks have an all-time record of 528-287-85.
• The Gamecocks begin their third season in the Sun Belt Conference.
• Carolina was picked to finish sixth in the conference by the coaches.
• The roster features many new faces from a season ago with 19 newcomers; 10 transfers and eight true freshmen.
• They return five starters from a season ago, including three starters in the defensive end, and two midfielders.

For the latest on men’s soccer, visit GamecocksOnline.com or follow the team’s social media accounts on Twitter @GamecockMSoccer, Facebook /GamecockMSoccer, and Instagram @GamecockMSoccer.