Postgame Highlights and Interviews
Greenville, S.C. – Evan De Ycaza and Marco Ortiz each scored for Furman as the Paladins and South Carolina Gamecocks played to a 2-2 draw in exhibition soccer action Saturday night on Seagraves Field at Stone Soccer Stadium.
De Ycaza, a sophomore from Cary, N.C., opened the scoring in the 30th minute. A South Carolina defender redirected a Furman shot outside the top of the box and De Ycaza lined a one-timer into the left side of the net at 29:11.
Furman looked like it would have a chance to double its lead from the penalty spot in the 60th minute, but pleas for a spot kick were waved off after Tyler Peoples was taken down from behind in the box.
South Carolina netted the equalizer less than five minutes later as Kurtis Turner found a loose ball at his feet at the top of the box and lined a shot through traffic to the left-hand corner. On Furman's next possession, Marco Ortiz was taken down inside the box and converted from the penalty spot at 65:01 to put the Paladins back in front, 2-1.
The Gamecocks evened the match less than six minutes before full time. Jeff Adai played a cross from the right wing to the far side of the box and Asa Kryst's shot deflected off of a Paladin defender and into net at 84:33.
South Carolina finished with an 8-4 edge in total shots while both squads registered three shots on goal. Furman's Sven Lissek and South Carolina's Marco Velez each collected one save in net.
The Paladins open the 2014 regular season on Friday when they face Seattle in the Aaron Olitsky Memorial Classic at College of Charleston's Patriots Point Athletics Complex in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. Furman caps tournament play against nationally-ranked UC Santa Barbara on Sunday, August 31, in Mt. Pleasant.
Jordan Caskey, Furman Sports Information
