Men’s Soccer Kicks off 2025 Season Thursday in Charleston

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The South Carolina men’s soccer team kicks off its 48th season when the Gamecocks travel to the College of Charleston Thursday for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. Carolina is led by fifth-year head coach Tony Annan. The team is coming off a 2024 season where they finished with a 10-5-2 overall record and a 5-4 conference record, their first winning season since 2016.

Gameday Information – #WEareCarolina
When: August 21 | 7:30 p.m.
Where: Charleston, S.C.
Venue: Ralph Lundy Field at Patriots Point (3,900)
Broadcast: FloSports
Live Stats: StatBroadcast

South Carolina Gamecocks 0-0, 0-0 Sun Belt
Coach: Tony Annan | 5th Season – 26-31-11
Returning Goal Leader: 9 | Ethan Ballek
Returning Assist Leader: 5 | Alejandro Velazquez-Lopez and Ethan Ballek
Returning Points Leader: 23 | Ethan Ballek
Returning Shots Leader: 50 | Ethan Ballek
Returning Saves Leader: 57| Filip Versterre

College of Charleston Cougars 0-0, 0-0 CAA
Coach: Keith Wiggans | 6th Season
Series History: South Carolina leads 17-7-3
Trend: CofC won 1
Last Meeting: CofC 1, South Carolina (OT) | Aug. 26, 2021 | Columbia, S.C.

Quick Notes

• This is the 48th season of South Carolina men’s soccer.
• Carolina has led the nation in attendance the last three seasons, averaging 4,399 fans per game the last two season.
• Since the NCAA started tracking attendance in 1998, the last two seasons rank 4th and 6th all-time in average attendance.
• They are the first program to lead the NCAA in attendance three straight seasons since UC Santa Barbara led nine straight years (2007-2015.
• The Gamecocks have an all-time record of 537-292-87
• The Gamecocks begin their fourth season in the Sun Belt Conference.
• Carolina was picked to finish fifth in the conference by the coaches.
• The squad had three players named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team: Ethan Ballek, Alexander Stjernegaard, and Alejandro Velazquez-Lopez.
• Ethan Ballek was named to the United Soccer Coaches Forwards to Watch List.
• Alexander Stjernegaard was named to the USC Midfielders to Watch List.
• The roster features many new faces from a season ago with 13 newcomers, nine transfers and four true freshmen.
• They return eight starters from a season ago, in addition to a duo of Mika Habel and Junior Sainte Juste who missed most of last season due to injury.

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.