COLUMBIA, S.C. – Behind four first-half goals, the South Carolina men’s soccer team took down in-state foe Winthrop 4-2 Friday night (Sept. 9) at Stone Stadium. The win was the second in-a-row for the Gamecocks and improves their record to 2-2-1 on the season.
All four Carolina goals came from different players as six players tallied a point. All four goals were the first of the season for each player. Adam Luckhurst finished the night with four points, a goal and two assists. He becomes the first Gamecock with a goal and two assists since Mitchell Myers against FIU on Nov. 2, 2018. Parker League also tallied a goal and an assist on the night, the first to do so since Peter Clement on April 10, 2021.
The Eagles jumped out to an early lead, scoring in the 12th minute after clearing a loose ball rebound. It didn’t take long for Carolina to answer back. On a free kick from nearly 40 yards out in the 14th minute, Will Crain put a shot on net that pushed the Winthrop goalie beyond the goal line. After VAR confirmed the call on the field, Crain celebrated his first goal as a Gamecock.
Nearly 20 minutes later, South Carolina would break the tie in the 33rd minute. Rocky Perez found Luckhurst near the top of the box. Luckhurst gave a soft touch ahead to a breaking Brian Banahan on the left side of the box as he went short side past the Eagle goalie, for his first goal of the season.
The Gamecocks were not done yet as less than three minutes later it would be Luckhurst’s turn. After a long throw in by Logan Frost found League in the box, his initial shot was saved by the keeper. Luckhurst was there to sweep up the garbage and pound the rebound home into the back of the net.
South Carolina stepped on the gas pedal to close out the first half, as this time it was League scoring with 48 seconds left in the period. After a free kick, Luckhurst played the ball out wide right to Micah Colodny. From near the sideline, Colodny played the ball inside the box where it found League. Falling away from the goal, League was able to just get his head on it and put it just inside the far post and lead 4-1 heading into the break.
Winthrop added another rebound goal with 15 minutes to play, but that would be their final opportunity of the match.
The Gamecocks out-shot the Eagles 23-10 on the night. Freshman goalkeeper Ben Alexander finished with five saves.
South Carolina hits the road Tuesday, September 13, when it takes on UNC Wilmington at 7p.m.
For…