COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina men’s soccer team returns to Stone Stadium to kick off back-to-back Sun Belt Conference matches starting Saturday night against UCF at 7 p.m.
Gameday Information – #WEareCarolina
Series History: South Carolina leads 9-3-4
Trend: UCF won 1
Last Meeting: UCF 4, South Carolina 0 | Nov. 1, 2024 | Orlando
Carolina Win Streak: 3, 2011-2016
JMU Win Streak: 2, 2019-2023
South Carolina Gamecocks 7-3-1, 0-0-1 Sun Belt
Coach: Tony Annan | 5th Season – 33-34-12
Goal Leader: 5 | Ethan Ballek
Assist Leader: 4 | Ethan Ballek
Points Leader: 14 | Ethan Ballek
Shots Leader: 41 | Ethan Ballek
Saves Leader: 25 | Filip Versterre
UCF Knights 2-5-1, 0-2 Sun Belt
Coach: Scott Calabrese | 9th Season
Fan Info
- This game kicks off Mental Health Awareness week for South Carolina Athletics.
- Fans can also help the Gamecocks support Rapid Shelter Columbia, Cola Parks and Recreation and Cola Homeless Services by bringing hygiene supplies to donate – toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, soap and body wash, lotion, hand sanitizer, combs and hair brushes, razors, shaving cream, socks, etc. All supplies will go directly to individuals in need in Columbia.
Taking the Pitch
- This will be the 17th meeting between the Gamecocks and Knights.
- The two sides played every season from 2005-2012 when both were members of the Conference USA.
- Since 2011, the Gamecocks lead the series 4-3.
- South Carolina is 4-1-2 all-time in Columbia.
- All-time, the Gamecocks have out-scored the Knights 28-18.
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-20 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 544-295-88
- 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.
- Filip Versterre ranks 3rd in the nation in goalie minutes played.
- Ethan Ballek ranked 12th in the nation in shots per game, 21st in total points, 31st in goals, and 33rd in assists.
- Carolina ranks 19th in the nation in total goals, 20th in total points and 25th 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.
