Team plays better in second half after sluggish start
Going into Saturday exhibition against Elon, the young USC men's soccer team had yet to play a full game together against another opponent.
The first-game jitters showed, as the No. 15 Gamecocks fell behind to the Phoenix before a second-half equalizer resulted in an eventual 1-1 draw.
"We were just a little bit tentative, and we weren't quite in sync," coach Mark Berson said. "This was our first scrimmage of the year, and it was their second. I think it was really evident in the first half. They had the experience of that first game, and they were really on their game and more on their tempo."
Offensively, the Gamecocks struggled early. USC had only shot and no corner kicks in the first period. Elon took advantage, as Jordan Smith tapped in Daniel Lovitz's cross from the left side in the 42nd minute.
For South Carolina goalkeeper Alex Long, it was the only goal he allowed in his first start. He also tallied one save.
"There was a few nervous moments in the first half," said Berson of Long. "He's just got to get game experience, but I thought he did very well. I'm very pleased, and he'll be just fine."
USC made adjustments at halftime and came out more aggressive offensively, taking 10 shots in the second period.
The Gamecocks tied the score when Stephen Morrissey headed in Bradlee Baladez's corner into the back of the net in the 54th minute. Though South Carolina continued to have scoring opportunities, with five corner kicks, it was unable to score again.
"I thought we made some adjustments at halftime, and I thought the guys really got in the second half and did much better," Berson said. "I thought towards the end of the game, we were a little bit unlucky not to get a goal, but Elon is a good team and they're a veteran team. They have a lot of older players — this is a junior- and senior-oriented team. We're a little bit on the other side."
For Berson, it was a good indicator of how the team was progressing as it opens the season against College of Charleston on Saturday. Despite the lack of chemistry, the squad performed up to his expectations, not being behind where he anticipated its development at this point of the season.
Nevertheless, there's always room for improvement, particularly in transition attacking and transition defending.
"Both when we win it and getting forward in the attack, we were not as sharp as we need to be," Berson said. "Defensively, when we lose it — closing down — we were not as sharp as we need to be. That's kind of what you would expect at this point of the season."