Men's Soccer . September 26, 2025

Gamecocks Return to Conference Action Sunday Night

South Carolina Gamecocks (6-3-1, 0-0-1)

vs.

James Madison Dukes (1-5-1, 0-1)

Sep 28, 2025 | 7:00 pm Harrisonburg, Va. | Sentara Park

TV: ESPN+

ONLINE:

Live Stats

HARRISONBURG, VA. – The South Carolina men’s soccer team hits the road for the first time in Sun Belt Conference play when the Gamecocks travel to James Madison Sunday for a 7 p.m. kickoff against the Dukes.

Gameday Information – #WEareCarolina
Series History: South Carolina leads 1-0-2
Trend: South Carolina won 1
Last Meeting: South Carolina 3, JMU 1 | Oct. 23, 2024 | Columbia
Carolina Win Streak: 1, 2024-present
JMU Win Streak: N/A

James Madison Dukes 1-5-1, 0-1 Sun Belt
Coach: Paul Zazenski | 8th Season

Taking the Pitch

This will be the 4th meeting between the Gamecocks and Dukes.
Prior to joining the Sun Belt, the two programs had never met.
The two sides tied in their first two meetings in 2022 and 2023.
- Both matches finished tied 1-1.
South Carolina earned a 3-1 victory last season in Columbia.
All-time, the Gamecocks have out-scored the Dukes 5-3.

Quick Notes

This is the 48th season of South Carolina men’s soccer.
The Gamecocks currently leads the nation in attendance (4,576).
All six of Carolina’s home matches rank in the top-17 for attendance in DI this season.
The match between Carolina at Clemson is the highest attended match in D1 (6,536).
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 543-295-88
South Carolina begins its fourth season in the Sun Belt Conference.
The Gamecocks has their four-match winning streak snapped against UNF, it was their longest since winning seven straight in 2016.
Carolina took down No. 11 UNCG, its first ranked win since Nov. 2023.
Ethan Ballek ranked 10th in the nation in shots per game, 14th in total points, 23rd in goals, and 24th in assists.
Filip Versterre leads the Sun Belt in total saves.
Carolina ranks 14th in the nation in total goals, 17th in total points and 27th in assists.
Carolina’s victory over Winthrop was the first since Georgia State (9/30/2014) when making zero saves.
Ethan Ballek was named the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 16.
William Nilsson was named the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 16.
It’s the first time in program history the Gamecocks swept Player of the Week awards in back-to-back weeks.
Tyler Trimnal was named the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 9.
Yvan Malarte was named the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 9.
- It’s the first time since 2017 sweeping the conference Player of the Week honors.
Yvan Malarte and Alejandro Velazquez-Lopez tallied a goal and an assist against Charlotte.
Ethan Ballek tallied a career-high two assists in the win over FIU.
- He finished the night with four points, adding a goal.
Tyler Trimnal scored his first goal as a Gamecock against FIU, tallying a brace that included the game-winner in the 83rd minute.
The win over FIU marked Carolina’s first comeback win since 2022 (USC Upstate, 9/6).
It’s the first time since 2011 Carolina opened the season with back-to-back road matches.
- 1995 is the only other season in which they played back-to-back road matches to start.
Mika Habel has scored in back-to-back matches to start the season after notching his first career goal against the College of Charleston.
Andrew Goldsworthy also tallied his first career goal in the win over CofC.
- Freshman Matthew DeJianne has tallied an assist in his first two collegiate matches, both coming on goals by Habel.
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 Saint 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.