October 3, 2001
GREENVILLE, SC -- The third ranked Furman men's soccer team lost a heartbreaker to 13th ranked South Carolina 3-2 in double overtime Wednesday night in front of 2,612 at Eugene Stone Soccer Stadium as the Gamecocks' Joey Worthen scored with 1:47 remaining in the second overtime period.
The game-winning goal came as Ryan Daley sent a pass to Worthen on the left side of the box. Worthen ripped a shot to the far post past Furman keeper Scott Blount. Worthen's goal prevented what would have been the third straight tie between the Paladins and Gamecocks over the last three seasons.
The match was just as intense and well played as was expected between two of the top teams in the nation. A total of ten yellow cards were handed out in the match, including two key yellow cards to Furman defender Moffat Oduor, forcing the Paladins to play 66 minutes down a man.
Furman opened the scoring in the first half as Asgeir Asgeirsson shot a laser past South Carolina keeper Michael Bachmeyer at the 13:11 mark from 30 yards out. Asgeirsson took the shot after collecting a cleared ball from a Jack Handy cross. Furman dominated the first half, outshooting South Carolina 7-2, but was only able to take a 1-0 lead into intermission.
South Carolina came out on fire in the second half and evened the score at the 48:18 mark as Ryan Daley knocked in a header off a Jordan Smith assist.
Five minutes later, at the 53:23 mark, Furman suffered a major blow as Oduor was carded for the second time.
Despite being down a man, the Paladins played tough and took the lead at the 69:34 mark on an Andy Chase penalty kick. Chase knocked in the penalty kick after South Carolina keeper Michael Bachmeyer fouled him in the box.
Furman tried desperately to preserve the 2-1 lead with only ten players on the field as keeper Scott Blount made two incredible saves in the 72nd minute and in the 75th minute. The Gamecocks were able to even the score, though, at the 85:53 mark as Daley scored his second header of the match off a Jordan Smith assist. South Carolina almost ended it in regulation with 2:43 to play, but Furman defender McNeil Cronin made a great back save on another Daley shot.
Neither team was able to score in overtime, though Furman controlled much of the flow of play, until Worthen's goal at the 188:13 mark.
"I thought this was a great match," said Furman head coach Doug Allison. "I am proud of the way we played, being down a man for most of the match. But I am also extremely disappointed we lost this match. This is the type of match we will hopefully play in the NCAA Tournament and we have to find a way to win, regardless of the circumstance."
Furman falls to 7-1 on the season, while South Carolina improves to 7-1. Furman is ranked third by Soccer America, fifth by College Soccer News, and sixth in the Men's Media poll. South Carolina entered the match ranked 13th by Soccer America, eighth in the media poll, and ninth in the College Soccer News poll.
Furman returns to action Saturday at Appalachian State, while South Carolina will visit in-state rival Clemson on Sunday.
Scoring:
Shots: FU 16, USC 17
Corner Kicks: FU 9 , USC 9
Saves: FU 9, USC 2
Fouls: FU 27, USC 22