Men's Soccer . September 10, 2026

No. 6 Men’s Soccer Continues Homestand Friday Night

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The sixth ranked South Carolina men’s soccer team continues its homestand Friday night (Sept. 11), when the Gamecocks host UNCG at 7 p.m.

#WEareCarolina

#6 South Carolina Gamecocks (5-0, 0-0)

vs.

UNCG Spartans (1-0-4, 0-0)

Sep 11, 2026 | 7:00 pm Columbia, S.C. | Stone Stadium

TV: ESPN+

ONLINE:

UNCG Spartans 1-0-4, 0-0 SoCon
Coach: Chris Rich | 8th Season
Series History: South Carolina leads 3-0-1
Trend: South Carolina won 1
Last Meeting: South Carolina 2, UNCG 1 | Sept. 13, 2025 | Greensboro, N.C.
Carolina Win Streak: 2, 1985-2014
UNCG Win Streak: None

TAKING THE PITCH

This will be the 5th meeting all-time between the Gamecocks and Spartans.
Carolina won last year’s meeting in Greensboro 2-1, to upset the No. 11 ranked Spartans.
USC trailed 1-0 at the half before two second half goals, including Loïc Sany Kong’s game-winner in the 84th minute.
The Gamecocks earned a 2-1 win in their first meeting on Sept. 22, 1985.
The lone tie of the series came on Sept. 8, 2015, a 3-3 draw.
All-time, the Gamecocks have out-scored the Spartans 9-6.

QUICK NOTES

This is the 49th season of South Carolina men’s soccer.
The Gamecocks are one of seven teams in DI to currently be at least 5-0 on the season.
Carolina’s home opener saw 5,489 fans pack Stone Stadium, the 10th largest crowd in program history.
The Gamecocks topped that with the largest attended match in program history August 28 against Clemson, 7,671, smashing the previous mark of 6,892.
Carolina’s three home matches rank in the top-6 highest attended games in DI this year.
South Carolina enters the week No. 6 in the United Soccer Coaches poll, No. 3 by Top Drawer Soccer, and No. 11 by College Soccer News.
It’s the highest the Gamecocks have been ranked in the coaches poll since they were also ranked 6th on Sept. 26, 2006.
The Gamecocks are 5-0 for the first time since 2003 with the win vs #14 High Point.
- Carolina began the 2003 season 7-0; 2002 & 1986 – 6-0; 1978 – 7-0; 1985 – 13-0.
The three straight victories over ranked opponents is the first for Carolina since defeating #5 SMU, #25 Tulsa, and #24 Duke in 2010.
After the win over HPU, Carolina became the only team in the country to take day three ranked opponents this season.
Yvan Malarte scored 1:05 into the match against Charlotte, the fastest Carolina goal since at least 2005. (Goal records are incomplete prior to 2005).
The Gamecocks win over #16 Clemson marked their first 3-0 start since 2014.
- It was their first win over the Tigers also since 2014.
Through five matches, the Gamecocks rank 9th in the nation in goal differential (11).
- As a team, they also rank sixth in assists per game, ninth in total assists, 10th in points per game, 11th in total points, 12th in scoring offense and 13th in total goals.
- Mika Habel ranks eighth in total assists (4) and 12th in assists per game.
- Angel Lopez is 30th in total points (9).
- Alejandro Velazquez-Lopez is tied for fifth in game-winning goals (2).
Alejandro Velazquez-Lopez was named the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 1 for his play in wins over Clemson and USC Upstate.
- He had three goals and an assist along with his first career back-to-back multi-point games.
- He notched his first multi-goal game of his career to open the week against USC Upstate, both of which came in the first half.
- He also helped Carolina take a lead at halftime against Clemson by assisting on Angel Lopez’s goal in the 24th minute and then score the game-winner in the 49th minute when he converted on a penalty kick.
Sany Kong was named the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week on Aug. 25 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.
Carolina led the nation in attendance in 2025 for the fourth straight season (3,792).
The Gamecocks have an all-time record of 548-301-89.