Gamecocks Fall to No. 10 Marshall

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina men’s soccer team (4-1-2) dropped a hard-fought match to No. 10 Marshall (5-1-1) 2-1 Friday night (Sept. 20) at Stone Stadium. The match was Carolina’s Sun Belt Conference opener.

The loss snaps Carolina’s six-match unbeaten streak to start the season, the longest since 2004. The Gamecocks out-shot the Thundering Herd 14-to-12, while shots on goal were tied at 5-5. Both teams took seven corner kicks. For Carolina, Filip Versterre made three saves in goal.

Carolina jumped out to an early lead in the 20th minute when Ethan Ballek intercepted a pass and scored from about 18 yards out into the bottom right corner. The lead was short lived as Marshall scored in the 23rd minute on a loose ball in front of the net.

The Thundering Herd took the lead in the 58th minute when they put home an attempted clear.

Carolina had a couple of opportunities in the second half, putting three shots on goal.

The Gamecocks wrap up their five-match homestand when they host Queens University Charlotte Sept. 24 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.