Men’s Soccer Returns Home to Host James Madison Wednesday
COLUMBIA, S.C. – After back-to-back matches on the road, the South Carolina men’s soccer team returns to Stone Stadium October 23, when the Gamecocks host James Madison at 7 p.m. It’s Western Wednesday at the pitch, where there will be country themed music and contests throughout the night.
Gameday Information – #WEareCarolina
When: October 23 | 7 p.m.
Where: Columbia, S.C.
Venue: Stone Stadium (5,700)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Series History: Tied 0-0-2
Last Meeting: South Carolina 1, James Madison 1 | Sept. 30, 2023 | Harrisonburg Va.
South Carolina Gamecocks 7-3-2, 2-3-0 Sun Belt
Coach: Tony Annan | 4th Season – 22-29-11
Goal Leader: 7 | Ethan Ballek and Harrison Myring
Assist Leader: 4 | Ethan Ballek
Points Leader: 18 | Ethan Ballek
Shots Leader: 41 | Ethan Ballek
Saves Leader: 34| Filip Versterre
James Madison Dukes 7-1-5, 3-0-2 Sun Belt
Coach: Paul Zazenski | 7th Season
Goal Leader: 4 | Yanis Lelin
Assist Leader: 6 | Evan Southern
Points Leader: 10 | Jeffrey Aguilar
Shots Leader: 30| Evan Southern
Saves Leader: 40 | Sebastian Conlon
Taking the Pitch
- This will be the 3rd meeting between the Gamecocks and Dukes.
- Both previous meetings have resulted in 1-1 ties.
- Last season the Gamecocks tied the match in the 72nd minute after JMU scored in the 65th.
- It was a similar story in 2022 as the Dukes scores first in the 33rd minute and Carolina tying it in the 42nd minute.
- In South Carolina’s 47 seasons as a program, this is the only series where there have been multiple ties without a victory.
Quick Notes
- Carolina led the nation last season in attendance (4,306) for the second straight season.
- That looks to continue this season with already having the second, third, and ninth largest crowds in program history this season.
- 6,622 attended the season opener vs Winthrop (8/22) and 6,400 vs Clemson (8/30). Those matches rank 3rd and 4th in the nation for single-game attendance this season. The Marshall and Kentucky matches also rank in the top-10.
- All nine home matches rank in the NCAA top-35 for single-game on-campus attendance.
- The Gamecocks rank 14th in the nation in scoring offense, 16th in goal differential, and 22nd in total goals and points per game.
- Harrison Myring ranks 28th in the nation in goals per game and 36th in total goals.
- Ethan Ballek ranks 15th in shots per game, 24th in shots on goal per game, 30th in points per game, 33rd in goals per game, 35th in points, and 36th in total goals.
- Myring, Ballek and Alejandro Velazquez-Lopez ranks 49th in game-winning goals.
- Filip Versterre ranks 39th in the nation in shutouts.
- Carolina played its 500th all-time match at the Graveyard against Belmont (9/7).
- Carolina had its six-match unbeaten streak end against #10 Marshall.
- It was the longest unbeaten streak to start a season since winning seven straight to begin the 2003 season.
- It was the longest unbeaten streak at any point since going eight straight in 2016.
- Andrew Goldsworthy was named the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week on 8/10.
- Carolina’s match against Jacksonville was suspended in the 50th minute. The match needed to go 70 minutes to become official, as the two teams will look to try to resume it at a later date.
- Carolina earned a point in its first three matches for the first time since 2014.
- Harrison Myring scored in each of the first three matches the season, the first player to do so since Brian Banahan during the spring 2021 season.
- 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 had 21 shots on goal on the night. Although program records are not kept, 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 534-290-87.
- 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.