Men's Soccer . November 9, 2024

Men's Soccer Begins Sun Belt Tournament Play Sunday

South Carolina Gamecocks (10-4-2, 5-4)

vs.

Kentucky Wildcats (5-5-6, 4-2-3)

Nov 10, 2024 | 7:00 pm Morgantown, W.Va. | Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium

TV: ESPN+

ONLINE:

MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – The South Carolina men’s soccer team beings play in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Sunday night, when the fifth-seeded Gamecocks take on the No. 4 seed Kentucky at 7 p.m. The winner advances to play the winner of West Virginia and Georgia Southern Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Morgantown.

Gameday Information – #WEareCarolina
When: November 10 | 7 p.m.
Where: Morgantown, W.Va.
Venue: Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium
Broadcast: ESPN+
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Series History: Kentucky leads 12-8-4
Last Meeting: Kentucky 2, South Carolina 0 | Oct. 4, 2024 | Columbia, S.C.

South Carolina Gamecocks 10-4-2, 5-4-0 Sun Belt
Coach: Tony Annan | 4th Season – 26-30-11
Goal Leader: 10 | Harrison Myring
Assist Leader: 5 | Alejandro Velazquez-Lopez and Ethan Ballek
Points Leader: 23 | Ethan Ballek
Shots Leader: 49 | Ethan Ballek
Saves Leader: 53| Filip Versterre

Taking the Pitch

This will be the 26th meeting between the Gamecocks and Wildcats.
There have been two neutral site matches all-time. Carolina won the last meeting 2-1 on Nov. 12, 2014 in the C-USA Tournament in Norfolk, Va.
The Gamecocks advanced in a shootout 4-2 Nov. 9, 2005 after a 0-0 draw in regulation during the C-USA Tournament in Dallas, Texas.
The two teams have met every year since 2005.
Kentucky leads the all-time series scoring 31-to-26.

Quick Notes

They 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 11 home matches rank in the NCAA top-45 for single-game on-campus attendance.
Harrison Myring has scored 10 goals on the season and Ethan Ballek has nine goals. That’s the most by a Gamecock in a season since Danny Deakin scored 11 in 2015.
Ballek’s 23 points and Myring’s 22 points are also the most since 2015.
Carolina won its 10th game Tuesday, marking their most wins in a season since 2016.
The Gamecocks rank 8th in the nation in shot accuracy, 11th in scoring offense, 13th in total goals, 14th in goal differential, 19th in points per game, and 22nd in total points.
Harrison Myring ranks 8th in the nation in game winning goals, 21st in goals per game and total goals, 34th in points per game, and 38th in total points.
Ethan Ballek ranks 28th in shots per game, 37th in shots on goal per game, 34th in total goals, 40th in goals per game, 35th in points per game, and 31st in total points.
Filip Versterre ranks 33rd in the nation in goalie minutes and 40th in shutouts.
Alejandro Velazquez-Lopez ranks 34th in the nation in shot accuracy.
Jonah Biggar was named to the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week on 10/29.
Carolina played its 500th all-time match at the Graveyard against Belmont (9/7).
Andrew Goldsworthy was named the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week on 8/10.
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.
Carolina’s match against Jacksonville was suspended in the 50th minute. The match needed to go 70 minutes to become official.
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 536-291-87.
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.