CofC Men’s Soccer Stuns South Carolina in Overtime, 1-0

Thursday, August 26

Columbia, S.C.

7:00 PM

College of Charleston

1-0-0, 0-0-0

South Carolina

0-1-0, 0-0-0

Col. of Charleston

South Carolina

CofC Men’s Soccer Stuns South Carolina in Overtime, 1-0

8/26/2021 10:14:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

COLUMBIA, S.C. --- A pair of beautiful open field passes led to a goal by Kane Ritchie nine minutes into the overtime period to give the College of Charleston men's soccer team a thrilling 1-0 victory over South Carolina on Thursday night at Stone Stadium.

After a scoreless 90 minutes of regulation, Jake Nicholson and Rio Murray combined on the assist to Ritchie, whose first career goal put the Cougars in the win column. CofC manufactured nine shots to South Carolina's 11, but the Cougars managed to shutout the Gamecocks with a stout defensive effort.

CofC picked up its first win over South Carolina since 2011 and its seventh overall victory over the Gamecocks in program history. The Cougars opened the campaign with a win for the first time since 2018.

Key Cougars

Sophomore Kane Ritchie notched the game-winning goal with a strike in the 99^th minute. He finished with two shots on goal, collecting his first career score in dramatic historic fashion.
Senior captain Jake Nicholson finished with three shots and set up the game-winning goal with an assist. He now has eight career assists.
2020-21 All CAA goalkeeper Cameron Smith launched his senior season in style with five saves and his third shutout dating to the beginning of last year's campaign. His last two shutouts came against No. 16 Coastal Carolina and now South Carolina. He ranked second in the CAA in save percentage (.828) last year.

Game Notes

After allowing just seven goals all of last season and ranking second in the CAA in goals against average (0.80), the Cougars shutout South Carolina with suffocating defense on Thursday.
It marked the Cougars' fifth shutout since the beginning of last season.
The two squads met for the first time since 2012. In the last nine meetings, CofC is 6-2-1 vs. the Gamecocks after Thursday's road win.

Up Next

CofC returns to Charleston on Sunday for its home opener vs. Stetson. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. The contest will serve as the Aaron Olitsky Memorial Game honoring the life of former Cougar soccer standout Aaron Olitsky.