South Carolina men's soccer makes statement with 3-0 shutout in exhibition game over Wofford

The South Carolina men's soccer team closed out its preseason slate with an impressive performance on Saturday night, defeating in-state foe Wofford 3-0 at Stone Stadium. The exhibition match gave fans their first real glimpse of the 2025 squad under head coach Tony Annan, and the Gamecocks did not disappoint. The Gamecocks had a rough start but overall, the team looked sharp, organized, and hungry to set the tone for the season ahead.

The Gamecocks struck early and never looked back. Tyler Trimnal opened the scoring before Ethan Ballek doubled the lead with a clean finish. A third and final goal game from Junior Saint Juste, sealing the deal and showing that South Carolina has plenty of attacking options in its arsenal this fall.

It wasn't just the goals that stood out, it was the way the team created chances, pressed high, and played with tempo. The offensive rhythm looked much improved compared to early exhibitions in past seasons.

Coach Annan has emphasized depth and chemistry throughout August with training sessions, and the performance on Saturday backed his belief that this could very well be the most talented roster of his tenure in Columbia. With several veterans blending alongside promising newcomers, the Gamecocks look ready to build on last year's success and chase another winning season.

While exhibition games do not count in the record books, the shut out and attacking play gave South Carolina a boost in confidence heading into its opener. The Gamecocks officially kick off the 2025 season on Thursday, August 21, when they travel to face College of Charleston at 7:30 p.m.