South Carolina Defeats Clemson 1-0

COLUMBIA, SC – Eric Martinez scored midway through the second half in leading South Carolina to a 1-0 victory over Clemson in a men’s intercollegiate soccer match in Columbia, SC Tuesday night.

With the win, South Carolina improves to 3-3-1 on the season.  Clemson falls to 1-5-2 on the year.

South Carolina took two shots early in the match.  In the sixth minute, South Carolina’s J.P. Rafferty took a 25-yard shot sh0t was saved by Clemson goalkeeper Cody Mizell.

Two minutes later, Bradlee Baladez sent a corner kick from the left to Stephen Anderson at the far post.  Anderson’s six-yard shot was saved by Mizell.

In the 11th minute of play, Clemson’s Preston Gayton sent a left-footed free kick to the left post, but it was saved by the South Carolina goalkeeper Alex Long as he knocked the shot over the goal with his right hand.

In the 37th minute of play, the Gamecocks’ Jeffrey Torda took a diagonal shot inside the box from 12 yards out but it was saved by Mizell.

With 3:20 left in the first half, Torda again sent a dangerous shot towards the goal from just outside the goalie box from the right, but again, Mizell made the save to preserve the scoreless tie.

In the second half, both teams attempted shots in the first five minutes of action.  Clemson’s Austin Savage sent a 25-yard shot over the goal with 42:50 left to go in the match.

With 40 minutes left, the Gamecocks’ Baladez attempted a shot after receiving a cross from Anderson on the right side.  After receiving the cross, Baladez’s shot went wide left.

In the 58th minute of action, Clemson’s Preston Gayton took a shot just inside the box and the hard attempt was saved by Long in the center of the goalie box.  In the 60th minute with Clemson on the attack, Austin Savage took a 16-yard shot just inside the box that sailed over the goal.

South Carolina scored at the 64:04 mark.  From the left corner, Ryan Arambula sent a corner kick to the far post.  Eric Martinez, making a run toward the right post, headed the ball in the netting for his first goal of the season.

With 17:50 left to go in the match, South Carolina had a flurry in front of the Tiger goal.    Snoopy Davidson took the first shot that was knocked away by Clemson defender Francklin Blaise.  The follow-up by Ryan Arambula went over the goal.

South Carolina outshot Clemson 12-8.  The Tigers were without starting forward Manolo Sanchez who was sitting out a red-card violation he received in the Duke match last Friday night.  Clemson had four corner kicks compared to the Gamecock’s three.  Clemson goalkeeper Mizell finished the night with six saves, four in the first half.

“We simply don’t threaten to score enough,” said Clemson Head Coach Mike Noonan.  “I thought we were tentative in the back in the first half, and we were fortunate to have a scoreless tie at the break.  Yes, we have lost people to injury, and we are playing with young people who are cutting their teeth, but we need to be more of a threat around the goal.  I was proud of the team in the second half – I thought we had a good shift in the second half,” said Noonan.

Clemson will play host to ACC-foe NC State Friday night at 7:00 p.m. at Historic Riggs Field.

Shots:  Clemson 8, South Carolina 12Corner Kicks:  Clemson 4, South Carolina 3Saves:  Cody Mizell (CU) 5, Alex Long (SC) 3Fouls:  Clemson 10, South Carolina 11Attendance:  1,764