COLUMBIA, S.C. – Following a near two-hour rain delay, the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's soccer team (1-1-4) fell just short of an upset bid against the No. 6 South Carolina Gamecocks (6-0-0) at Eugene E. Stone III Stadium, the home side riding an early own goal to emerge with a 1-0 win in a battle of unbeaten sides in Columbia, South Carolina, Friday evening. 
 
Head Coach Chris Rich's side pushed the Gamecocks throughout after going down within seven minutes, but was unable to convert a series of solid chances in the rain against the No. 6 team in the country. The loss is the first of the season for a UNCG side that entered the night on the back of four consecutive draws, the last two having come on the road. 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
UNCG goalkeeper Seth Wilson was called into action shortly after kickoff, producing a pair of stellar saves four seconds apart to keep the Gamecocks out just after the sixth minute. He was unable to produce a third on a resulting corner, however, the ball glancing off a Spartan inside a crowded six-yard box and into the net for the opening goal. 
 
Finding their feet, the Blue & Gold pushed forward in force just after the 20-minute mark. A slick move built to Lasse Dahl slotting a low shot past Gamecocks' goalkeeper Noah Scheidweiler in the 24^th minute, only to see it ping off of the far post. Steven Hernandez collected the rebound and wove his way back into the box, only to thunder his shot off the woodwork as well. 
 
Hernandez's close call did turn into a golden opportunity, however. A cross intended for a head in the Gamecock box struck a hand on the way in, handing UNCG a chance from the spot in the 25^th minute. Pablo Torre stepped up, but sent his effort inches outside the post attempting to beat Scheidweiler to the bottom left corner. 
 
Neither team put another attempt on goal as the rain began to fall in the first half, South Carolina holding a slim 1-0 advantage at the break. 
 
Trym Linberg forced a save two minutes out of the break as UNCG came out with control of possession to start the second half. Sigurd Eikenes Sæveraas saw a drive parried away just before the hour mark as the Spartans pushed hard for an equalizer. 
 
Hopes of an equalizer for the Blue & Gold were dealt a blow in the 64^th minute when Linberg was assessed a second yellow card, ending his night early.  But the Spartans continued to push forward in search of opportunities; Torre connected on a shot from just outside the box in the 77^th minute, stifled by Scheidweiler. 
 
At the other end, a stiff Spartans defense kept the Gamecocks without a shot on target in the second half until the 78^thminute of action, continuing to keep Rich's side in the game even down a man. Constantly dangerous from his position on the left wing, Hernandez saw a strong effort down low turned away in the 80^th minute and Tiago Campos' follow-up drive blocked. 
 
Both sides battled to control possession down the stretch, the final 10 minutes yielding back-and-forth action and several fouls but just one further shot on goal from South Carolina that was stopped by Wilson. A valiant effort from UNCG would fall achingly short, 1-0. 
 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• South Carolina outshot UNCG 13-12, with shots on target going the Gamecocks' way at 7-4. 
• Wilson's seven saves on the night were the most for the senior in game so far this season. 
• Campos, Hernandez, Torre, and Eikenes Sæveraas all tied for the game-high with two shots apiece. 
• Freshman defender Mathis Robinand made his debut for the Spartans in Columbia, logging 43 minutes. 
• Even after going a man-down, UNCG outshot South Carolina 8-5 in the second half. 

• One goal is the fewest the Gamecocks have scored in a game this season, and the fifth time in six games this year that UNCG has held an opponent to one or fewer goals. 

UP NEXT 
The Spartans return home for the first time since Aug. 28, welcoming the South Florida Bulls to UNCG Soccer Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 15. Kickoff in Greensboro is set for 7:00 p.m. on ESPN+.