COLUMBIA, S.C. – The No. 1 ranked South Carolina men’s soccer team (7-1-1, 1-0-1) tied 1-1 against James Madison (3-4-2, 1-0-1) on Sunday night (Sept. 27) at Stone Stadium.
Loïc Sany Kong opened the scoring for the Gamecocks in the 3rd minute, finding the bottom left corner of the net with a low driven shot. Yoni Perez’s tackle won the ball in the midfield before his lofted pass found Sany Kong sprinting down the left side. The goal was Sany Kong’s team-leading fifth of the season.
The Dukes had their first shot on target in the 14th minute denied by a standing save from South Carolina goalkeeper Noah Scheidweiler. Scheidweiler produced another save in the 25th minute and the sophomore was called upon again in the 27th minute, coming off his line to deflect a shot inside the penalty area. Scheidweiler made his fourth save shortly before halftime, stretching to parry a shot away.
The Dukes scored an equalizer at the beginning of the second half in the 53rd minute through Cámara Tur.
The score remained tied late into the second half before James Madison found the net in the 78th minute. The goal was overturned for offsides upon video review.
Yvan Malarte had Carolina’s best chance of the second half in the 80th minute, heading Mika Habel’s free kick toward goal. In the last three minutes, Sany Kong beat his defender with a delicate touch before delivering a cross that was unable to find a Gamecock player.
South Carolina finished with 13 shots, three on target, while James Madison recorded 10 shots with seven on goal. The Dukes led 3-2 in corner kicks. Scheidweiler produced a season-high six saves.
The Gamecocks travel to take on West Virginia in a Sun Belt match October 3 at 7 p.m.