University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics
South Carolina
Men's Soccer Heads to Columbia to Face the Gamecocks
8/23/2026 10:38:00 AM | Men's Soccer
August 24, 2026 | 7:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate at South Carolina
Eugene E. Stone III Stadium | Columbia, S.C.
Watch: ESPN+
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – USC Upstate men's soccer continues its season-opening road swing Monday night as the Spartans make the trip to Columbia for an in-state battle with South Carolina. Kickoff from Eugene E. Stone III Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The Spartans return to Columbia looking to replicate one of the highlights of their 2025 campaign, when Upstate knocked off the Gamecocks, 2-1, at Stone Stadium. The victory gave head coach Michael Antoniewicz his first win at the helm of the Spartan program and continued a run of recent success for Upstate against South Carolina.
Upstate's last trip to Columbia produced a memorable result as the Spartans defeated South Carolina, 2-1, on Aug. 29, 2025 in front of 4,098 fans at Stone Stadium.
Series History
While South Carolina holds a 6-3 advantage in the nine meetings between the programs since 2017, the Spartans have enjoyed considerable success in Columbia in recent seasons. All nine meetings in the series have been played at South Carolina.
Upstate has won three of the last five meetings, earning victories in 2021, 2023 and 2025.
The Spartans earned their first victory in the series with a 1-0 win in 2021 before recording their largest victory over the Gamecocks two years later. Upstate went into Columbia on Sept. 26, 2023 and came away with a commanding 4-0 victory. After South Carolina responded with a 4-0 win in 2024, Upstate reclaimed bragging rights with last season's 2-1 triumph.
Monday gives the Spartans an opportunity to accomplish something they have yet to do in the series: defeat South Carolina in consecutive meetings.
Spartan Notes
- Upstate enters Monday looking for its second consecutive victory over South Carolina.
- The Spartans defeated the Gamecocks 2-1 in Columbia last season.
- The 2025 victory was Michael Antoniewicz's first win as USC Upstate's head coach.
- Upstate has won three of its last five matches against South Carolina, taking victories in 2021, 2023 and 2025.
- All nine meetings between Upstate and South Carolina since 2017 have been played in Columbia.
- Upstate owns a 3-6 all-time record against South Carolina over those nine meetings.
- The Spartans' largest victory in the series came in 2023, when Upstate defeated South Carolina 4-0.
- Upstate has scored multiple goals in each of its last two victories over the Gamecocks.
- A win Monday would give the Spartans consecutive victories over South Carolina for the first time in series history.
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