Gamecocks Earn Draw with Top-Ranked Tigers

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina men’s soccer team (1-0-2) earned a 2-2 draw with No. 1 Clemson (1-0-1) in their Palmetto Series match presented by the South Carolina Education Lottery Friday night (Aug. 30) at Stone Stadium. The crowd of 6,400 was the third largest in program history.

The Tigers led 15-to-10 in shots, and 8-to-6 in shots on goal. Carolina’s freshman goalkeeper Filip Versterre finished with six saves.

The top-ranked Tigers came out strong forcing the Carolina defense to come up with big saves early. Clemson capitalized off a foul in the 25th minute setting up a penalty kick. Versterre made the initial save on the shot, the Tigers were able to put home the rebound.

Within the same minute, 33 seconds later, Carolina responded. An assist from the corner by Junior Saint Juste set Harrison Myring up just outside the six-yard box to send it to the back of the goal. Myring has now scored in the first three matches of the season, becoming the first Gamecock to score in three straight matches since Brian Banahan during the 2021 spring season.

Coming out of the half, the Gamecocks wasted no time taking the lead after 28 seconds. An initial header from Sebastian Reventlow-Mourier was saved, but Gabe Nickerson hit the rebound home to give the Gamecocks the advantage.

Clemson found the equalizer in the 66th minute, bouncing one into the goal off the crossbar.

In the 74th minute, a Clemson player received his second yellow card of the match resulting in a red card, giving Carolina the one-man advantage for the final 15 minutes.

The draw is only the second in the series, with the other coming on Oct. 8, 2000, also at Stone Stadium.

South Carolina hits the road for the first time this season to play Jacksonville Sept. 4 at 6 p.m.

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.