Gamecocks Down the Dukes 3-1
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina men’s soccer team (8-3-2, 3-3) took down James Madison (7-2-5, 3-1-2) 3-1 Wednesday night (Oct. 23) in front of the home crowd at Stone Stadium.
The Gamecocks and Dukes were tied on the night with 11 shots apiece, while Carolina held a 5-to-3 advantage in shots on goal, and James Madison led 5-to-2 in corner kicks. South Carolina goalkeeper Filip Versterre finished with a pair of saves.
What began as a defensive battle, turned into an offensive frenzy. Carolina’s first shot in the 20th minute of the match turned into its first goal of the night. Alejandro Velazquez-Lopez took a quick pass and found Ethan Ballek near the top right of the box. Ballek settled the ball and ripped a shot that deflected off the JMU keeper’s hands and into the net. The goal was Ballek’s eighth of the season, the most by a Gamecock since Bjorn Gudjonsson score eight in 2016.
Leading 1-0 after the half, Carolina pushed the gas to start the second half. In the 50th minute a corner kick from Jonah Biggar headed for Velazquez-Lopez, who deflected it to William Nilsson. His quick strike went over the goalie’s head and found the back of the net for his second score of the season.
The Dukes got the goal back in the 55th minute after a turnover deep in Carolina territory.
That’s how the score would remain until just over a minute left in the match. Nilsson made a long pass up the field on a loose ball and Biggar was able to beat his defender. The JMU goalkeeper had come out to make a play, but Biggar easily beat him to score on a wide-open net, sending the Carolina bench onto the field and into a dogpile celebration with Biggar. The goal was his first of the season.
The victory for the Gamecocks was the first by either team in the series as both previous meetings ended in a tie.
South Carolina heads back on the road for back-to-back matches beginning with Old Dominion October 27 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.
