It’s time to crow! About soccer?

Credit: Frankie Creel-US Presswire

Last night in Tampa, FL, amid pouring rain and awful conditions, something special happened.  It’s not often you’ll find me discussing soccer in any context.  But when praise is due, it must be delivered…no matter the sport.  Following a three-hour rain delay, the men’s soccer team took the field against the No. 2 team in the land, the University of South Florida.  Against the odds, the Gamecocks won.

They overcame the wet conditions and held the Bulls scoreless in route to a 1-0 victory.  Freshman Niklas Kivinen scored the decisive goal at the 32 minute mark.  It was his first collegiate goal.  Goalkeeper Alex Long fended off 3 shots-on-goal, earning his sixth career shutout (3^rd of the season).

The Gamecock men’s soccer team (2-1-1) will conclude play in Tampa tomorrow night vs Florida Gulf Coast.  They will then travel to Charlotte, NC on the 12^th to face UNC-Charlotte.  Gamecock Nation will welcome them back to Stone Stadium on the 18^th as they face rival Clemson.

We may not be the biggest soccer fans in the world.  But, we are Gamecocks fans.  When our team does something amazing (like go on the road and beat No. 2 in the rain),  we’re going to crow proudly.  The team deserves to hear it.