Men's Soccer . October 17, 2025

Gamecocks Set for Road Match Sunday at No. 25 Kentucky

South Carolina Gamecocks (7-4-2, 1-1-2)

#25 Kentucky Wildcats (6-2-3, 3-1)

Oct 19, 2025 | 3:00 pm Lexington, Ky. | Bell Soccer Complex

TV: ESPN+

ONLINE:

Live Stats

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The South Carolina men’s soccer team begins a road trip when the Gamecocks travel to the Bluegrass State to face No. 25 Kentucky Sunday afternoon for a 3 p.m. match.

Gameday Information – #WEareCarolina
Trend: Kentucky won 2
Last Meeting: Kentucky 1, South Carolina 0 | Nov. 10, 2024 | Morgantown W. Va.
Carolina Win Streak: 3, 1991-2005
UK Win Streak: 4, 2017-2021

#25 Kentucky Wildcats 6-2-3, 3-1 Sun Belt
Coach: Johan Cedergren | 14th Season
Series History: Kentucky leads 14-8-4

Taking the Pitch

This will be the 27th meeting between the Gamecocks and Wildcats.
The two sides have played every season from since 2005 as both were previously members of the Conference USA.
Carolina’s last victory came on the road in 2023 with a shutout 1-0.
South Carolina is 3-7-2 all-time in Lexington.
All-time, the Wildcats have out-scored the Gamecocks 32-26.

Quick Notes

This is the 48th season of South Carolina men’s soccer.
The Gamecocks currently leads the nation in attendance (4,211).
Six of Carolina’s home matches rank in the top-23 for attendance in DI this season.
The match between Carolina at Clemson is the third 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 seasons.
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 544-296-89
South Carolina is in 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.
Filip Versterre ranks 17th in the nation in goalie minutes played.
Ethan Ballek ranked 15th in the nation in shots per game.
Carolina ranks 37th in the nation in total goals and 45th in total points, which is also second in the league.
The lead the Sun Belt and rank 34th in the nation in fewest fouls per game.
Mika Habel was named the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 30.
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.

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.