Tuesday, November 4
Columbia, S.C.
7:00 PM
West Virginia University
12-3-2, 7-2-0
2
at
1
South Carolina
7-9-2, 1-6-2
1
2
F
West Virginia
0
2
2
South Carolina
1
0
1
Mountaineers Rally for Win at South Carolina in Regular-Season Finale
November 04, 2025 10:39 PM | Men's Soccer
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The No. 16 West Virginia University men's soccer team came away with a 2-1 victory at South Carolina, Tuesday evening to wrap up the regular season. The Mountaineers improve to 12-3-2 and finish with a 7-2-0 Sun Belt record while the Gamecocks' season comes to an end at 7-9-2 and 1-6-2 in conference play.
With the victory, West Virginia clinched the No. 2 seed in the Sun Belt Tournament and will host the quarterfinals and semifinals. The Mountaineers will play No. 7-seed Old Dominion at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 9, in the first quarterfinal before No. 3-seed Marshall and No. 6-seed Georgia State face off at 7 p.m. The semifinals will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m.
In Tuesday's contest, the Mountaineers received goals from graduate student Carlos Hernando and senior Felix Ewald. Graduate student Marc Bonnaire made three saves in goal to secure the victory.
Overall, WVU outshot the Gamecocks, 17-9, with a 9-4 advantage in shots on goal and earned 12 corner kicks while conceding just one.
Early in the game, the Mountaineers had a few chances, including a shot on frame from former Gamecock Ethan Dekel Daks. South Carolina also had a chance in the 13th minute, but a shot from Alejandro Velazquez-Lopez hit the right post.
In the 16th minute, WVU earned a corner, but the Gamecocks cleared it away and on the ensuing counterattack, South Carolina's leading scorer Ethan Ballek had just Bonnaire to beat and slotted one home to jump out in front. The Gamecocks held onto that one-goal lead until the half.
In the 51st minute, a South Carolina handball in the box gave a penalty kick to the Mountaineers. Hernando stepped up and buried his third goal of the season.
Just 10 minutes later, the Mountaineers converted on a corner kick as freshman Juan Alvarez sent the ball into the box. After bouncing around, it found Ewald in front, who headed it home, putting WVU on top.
Bonnaire had to make a pair of saves after being handed the lead, first knocking a ball over the bar in the 65th minute before making a diving save in the 77th minute.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
With the victory, West Virginia clinched the No. 2 seed in the Sun Belt Tournament and will host the quarterfinals and semifinals. The Mountaineers will play No. 7-seed Old Dominion at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 9, in the first quarterfinal before No. 3-seed Marshall and No. 6-seed Georgia State face off at 7 p.m. The semifinals will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m.
In Tuesday's contest, the Mountaineers received goals from graduate student Carlos Hernando and senior Felix Ewald. Graduate student Marc Bonnaire made three saves in goal to secure the victory.
Overall, WVU outshot the Gamecocks, 17-9, with a 9-4 advantage in shots on goal and earned 12 corner kicks while conceding just one.
Early in the game, the Mountaineers had a few chances, including a shot on frame from former Gamecock Ethan Dekel Daks. South Carolina also had a chance in the 13th minute, but a shot from Alejandro Velazquez-Lopez hit the right post.
In the 16th minute, WVU earned a corner, but the Gamecocks cleared it away and on the ensuing counterattack, South Carolina's leading scorer Ethan Ballek had just Bonnaire to beat and slotted one home to jump out in front. The Gamecocks held onto that one-goal lead until the half.
In the 51st minute, a South Carolina handball in the box gave a penalty kick to the Mountaineers. Hernando stepped up and buried his third goal of the season.
Just 10 minutes later, the Mountaineers converted on a corner kick as freshman Juan Alvarez sent the ball into the box. After bouncing around, it found Ewald in front, who headed it home, putting WVU on top.
Bonnaire had to make a pair of saves after being handed the lead, first knocking a ball over the bar in the 65th minute before making a diving save in the 77th minute.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Team Stats
WVU
SC
Goals
2
1
Shots
17
9
Shots on Goal
9
4
Saves
3
5
Corners
12
1
Fouls
10
17
Scoring Plays
Ethan Ballek (8)
Assisted By: Loic Sany Kong
GOAL by SC Ballek, Ethan Assist by Sany Kong, Loic.
15:19
Carlos Hernando (2)
WVU Carlos Hernando PENALTY KICK GOAL.
52:00
Felix Ewald (4)
GOAL by WVU Ewald, Felix.
60:55
Game Leaders
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
3
Goals
0
Assists
0
fwd
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
MF
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's SoccerMF
/ Men's SoccerD
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