Men's Soccer . August 27, 2026

Men’s Soccer Hosts Palmetto Series Friday

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The men’s soccer Palmetto Series turns 49 years old Friday night when South Carolina hosts No. 16 Clemson at 7 p.m. It will be the 16th time Stone Stadium has hosted the matchup between the Gamecocks and Tigers.

Palmetto Series

South Carolina Gamecocks (2-0, 0-0 SBC)

vs.

#16 Clemson Tigers (2-0, 0-0 ACC)

Aug 28, 2026 | 7:00 pm Columbia, S.C. | Stone Stadium

TV: ESPN+

ONLINE:

#16 Clemson Tigers 2-0, 0-0 ACC
Coach: Mike Noonan | 17th Season
Series History: Clemson leads 35-17-2
Trend: Clemson won 1
Last Meeting: Clemson 4, South Carolina 1 | Aug. 26, 2025 | Clemson, S.C.
Carolina Win Streak: 5, 1992-95
Clemson Win Streak: 10, 2015-2023

TAKING THE PITCH

This will be the 53rd meeting all-time in the Palmetto Series.
In Columbia, the Gamecocks trail the series 9-15-2.
This is the first time since 2017 that both teams enter the match 2-0.
Carolina’s last victory in the series came at home in 2014, a 2-1 victory in double overtime.
The two sides played to a 2-2 draw the last time they met in Columbia (2024).
The only other draw in series history came in 2000, a 0-0 tie at Stone Stadium.
All-time, the Tigers have out-scored the Gamecocks 104-60.

SANY KONG NAMED SBC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Sany Kong was named the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week on Tuesday for his performance in the win over North Florida.
He tallied five points, two goals and an assist, on opening night. It was his first career multi-goal and multi-point game.
He had a hand in all three second half goals, including scoring the game-winning goal in the 54th minute to put Carolina up 2-1.
In the 66th minute Sany Kong took a free kick just outside the 18-yard box. His serve found the head of Angel Lopez, who deflected it home.
On the ensuing kickoff, Carolina stole the ball and Sany Kong found the bottom right corner 19 seconds later for his second goal of the night.

QUICK NOTES

This is the 49th season of South Carolina men’s soccer.
Carolina’s home opener Monday night saw 5,489 fans pack Stone Stadium, the ninth largest crowd in program history.
The Gamecocks lead the nation in attendance for the fourth straight season (3,792).
Through two matches, the Gamecocks rank second in the nation in goal differential (7), trailing Wisconsin (10).
- As a team, they also rank fifth in total goals (8), and seventh in total assists (8) and total points (24)
- Loïc Sany Kong ranks fourth in total goals and sixth in total points.
Carolina earned the win Monday night in a 4-0 victory over USC Upstate.
- The Gamecocks played a man-up for the final 59 minutes of the match.
- They scored 15 seconds into the second half on a goal by Loïc Sany Kong.
- Alejandro Velazquez-Lopez tallied two goals in the victory, including a penalty kick.
- Mika Habel scored his first goal of the season and added an assist.
- Hugo Febles made his first collegiate appearance and tallied two assists.
Sany Kong was named the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in the win over North Florida.
Sany Kong tallied five points, two goals and an assist, on opening night. It was his first career multi-goal and multi-point game.
Angel Lopez scored a goal and added an assist in the season opener, the third of his career.
As a team, the Gamecocks tallied 12 points in the opening win over UNF, the most points in a game since having 13 against USC Upstate on Sept. 10, 2024.
The Gamecocks have won three-straight season openers.
It’s the second straight season winning the season opener on the road.
Carolina is unbeaten in its last five season openers.
Carolina was picked to finish sixth in the conference by the coaches.
The roster features many new faces from a season ago with 18 newcomers, nine transfers and nine true freshmen.
They return four starters from a season ago, including Mika Habel who returned from an injury which forced him to miss most of 2024. Gabriel Nickerson is also back after missing the 2025 season due to injury.
- In addition to Habel, the Gamecocks return: Isaiah Whittaker-Francis, Alejandro Velazquez-Lopez, and Yvan Malarte.
Also returning is Matthew DeJianne who was named to the Sun Belt All-Freshman Team.
Joining Carolina is Emil Seedorff, the 2025 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year.
South Carolina is in its fifth season in the Sun Belt Conference.
Eight of Carolina’s home matches rank in the top-30 for attendance in DI last season.
The match between Carolina at Clemson was the third highest attended match in D1 (6,536).
They are the first program to lead the NCAA in attendance four straight seasons since UC Santa Barbara led nine straight years (2007-2015).
The Gamecocks have an all-time record of 546-301-89.