Neck and neck against Gamecocks: Men’s soccer draws USC in physical match up

The men’s soccer team drew 1-1 against their Sun Belt Conference rival, the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, in an intense matchup on Oct. 14.

The first half was physical with a total of 14 fouls being called, including two yellow cards split between the teams. In the attacking third, the Gamecocks managed four shots and the Chanticleers had five. Neither team was able to find the back of the net.

The half ended at a tension-filled score of 0-0.

The physicality continued in the second half while both teams moved the ball quickly to try and score.

Coastal co-captain Marcello Jones opened the scoring in the 56th minute off a set piece. A long throw-in from freshman Eythor Kjartansson connected with forward Alvaro Garcia-Pascual who headed it back towards Jones.

Jones headed it into the side netting and passed by the Gamecock’s goalkeeper to put the Chanticleers up 1-0. 15 minutes later, USC’s Peter Clement levelled the scoring. Defender Will Crain passed the ball to forward Adam Luckhurst who flicked it onto an open Clement. Clement’s left-footed finish tied the score at 1-1.

The fast-paced game was back-and-forth until the end with both teams playing with the urgency to score. Neither team could score again, and the inner-state contest finished 1-1.

The Chanticleers are now 3-3-5 on the season and 0-0-4 in conference play. The team will travel to Lexington, Kentucky to match up against the No. 3 nationally ranked Wildcats.