Columbia, S.C. - The Panthers took blows but refused to stay down in their conference opener on Friday night. Matthew Taylor provided a goal and an assist to help erase 1-0 and 2-1 deficits, as Georgia State battled to split points with South Carolina in their first Sun Belt action. 

How it Happened

The Gamecocks opened the scoring late in the first half, putting the ball in the top left corner of the net to take the 1-0 lead. The lead was extremely short-lived, however, as the Panthers evened things up on the very next possession. Taylor's team-leading fourth goal of the year knotted the squads up at 1-1 heading into halftime.

The second half painted a similar story to the first. The Gamecocks needed just over 10 minutes to retake the lead, but the Panthers needed just under 10 minutes to respond. With his squad once again trailing, Taylor came through, providing the assist for Sandro Rabarivony's first goal of the season.

Loan Marin saved a pair of would-be game-winners in the closing minutes of the contest, including a 97th-minute try that he knocked away with just the tips of his fingers. Both teams moved to 0-0-1 in conference play with the 2-2 draw.

Game Notes

• Taylor's goal was his second in the last two games and his fourth in just seven games on the season
• Marin's five saves were his second most in a game this season
• Freshman Brandon Graham was credited with his first career assist on the Taylor goal
• Taylor's first assist of the season set up Rabarivony's first goal of the campaign