Gamecocks Win 2-0 Playing a Man Down Most of the Match

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina men’s soccer team (4-0-2) played a man down for 86 minutes Sunday night (Sept. 15) at Stone Stadium, but the Gamecocks still earned a 2-0 victory over East Tennessee State (1-4-2).

With a man-advantage, the Buccaneers out-shot the Gamecocks 12-to-4 on the night, 5-to-3 in shots on goals, and held a 4-to-1 advantage in corner kicks. Carolina goalkeeper Filip Versterre finished with a season-high five saves.

Just 4:03 into the match, a Gamecock player was shown a red card following a hard foul. Medical staff attend to the injured ETSU player and the match resumed after about a 13 minute delay.

Now playing a man down, South Carolina was methodical in their offensive attacking. The Gamecocks would break through in the 23rd minute when Ethan Ballek scored his fourth goal of the season. He drove through the Buccaneers back line, evading several ETSU defenders and putting it into the far right post.

Already leading 1-0 at the half, Carolina refused to sit back and came out attacking in the second half. They needed only 2:55 to put home a second goal to extend the lead. Ronnie McGrath found Kieran Karp on the right wing, who sent the ball into the box where it found the head of Martin Yahia. He would put it home for his second goal of the season.

South Carolina opens Sun Belt Conference play when it hosts No. 6 Marshall Sept. 20 at 7 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.