Columbia, S.C. -- Furman and 21st-ranked South Carolina played to a 1-1 draw before the Gamecocks advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship in penalty kicks, 2-1, at Eugene Stone III Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Thursday evening.

Trailing 1-0 in the final seconds, Furman's Kyle McLagan sent a low cross into the box from the left wing that Lewis Hawke redirected into the far corner to knot the match at 1-1 with 18 seconds left in regulation.  After Furman's Bobby Edet and Eli Pinner forced South Carolina's William Pyle into saves in the opening 10-minute overtime period, the second overtime went without a shot on goal as the game headed to penalty kicks.

Both teams converted from the spot in the first round and Furman's Sven Lissek, the reigning NSCAA National Player of the Week, put the Paladins in front with a save to his right to start the second round.  Pyle denied Pinner to even the match up after two rounds before Lissek recorded another save.  Furman's Marco Carrizales missed high to leave the shootout tied at 1-1 through three rounds.

South Carolina moved in front when Kurtis Turner converted and Pyle smothered Tony Santibanez's spot kick in the fourth round.  With the match on the line, Lissek turned away Ryan Arambula's shot down the middle by deflecting the effort with his leg, but Marco Ortiz fired over the bar as the Gamecocks secured the penalty kick triumph, 2-1.

"It was a tough game to lose but I am very proud of our team," said Paladin head coach Doug Allison. "Our seniors have done a great job leading us all year and we never quit tonight. Lewis scored another big goal and Sven was outstanding in the shootout."

The loss capped the Paladins season at 8-5-6, while South Carolina (11-7-2) advanced to face No. 15 seed UC Santa Barbara in round two on Sunday evening in Santa Barbara, Calif.

The match went scoreless through the first half as both teams recorded three total shots.  Furman upped the pressure early in the second half and created several chances, but it was the Gamecocks who broke the deadlock at the 57:56 mark when Danny Deakin dribbled into the right side of the box and fired a shot back across his body and inside the near post for the 1-0 lead.

The Paladins pressed forward for the equalizer and earned several corner kicks before finding the tying goal in the finals seconds.

South Carolina finished with a 14-13 edge in total shots, but Furman managed a commanding 7-1 advantage in shots on goal.  Pyle stopped six shots for the Gamecocks, while Lissek was not forced into a save in 110 minutes of play prior to making three save in penalty kicks.



Jordan Caskey, Furman Sports Information