BLUFFTON, SOUTH CAROLINA — The University of South Carolina Beaufort soccer team opened its 2026 slate on Friday evening at Palm Beach Atlantic with a 3-2 victory. USCB used a strong first half to take a 2-1 lead before trading goals in the second half and securing the win on a goal from Nicole Gray.
"It's always a great feeling to get the first one of the year under your belt. The energy and emotion around opening day is always high, so to go on the road and get a result against a strong opponent is great," said head coach Gary Boughton.
This marks the second consecutive year the Sand Sharks have opened the season with a victory. This as well is the second straight year USCB has defeated the Sailfish by one goal after earning a 2-1 win a year ago.
Palm Beach Atlantic outshot the Sand Sharks 10-4 on goal, but Graysen Asher finished the opener with eight saves to help lead USCB to the victory.
USCB was led in scoring by three different players: Kassi Martin, Sami Ruby and Gray. Sophia Willis finished the night with an assist on the second goal.
The season opener featured fireworks early, as Kassi Martin opened the scoring at the 3:09 mark of the first half, sending a shot into the back of the net after Asher kept the game scoreless with a save just a minute earlier.
Palm Beach Atlantic, though, quickly had an answer. The Sailfish earned back-to-back corner-kick opportunities helping lead to their first goal on the second chance to even the score at 1-1 just under five minutes into the match.
After the Sand Shark defense kept the game tied by stopping several PBA chances, USCB retook the lead. Sophia Willis set up Sami Ruby for her first goal of the 2026 season at the 15:13 mark of the half. Willis beat defenders to the ball before making the pass to Ruby completing the play with a goal to give the Sand Sharks a 2-1 lead.
Asher helped keep the game in favor of the Sand Sharks with back-to-back saves in a quick span, including a diving stop on a strong shot from the Sailfish attack.
The Sand Sharks carried their 2-1 lead into the halftime break.
In the second half, Palm Beach Atlantic struck first, this goal tied the score at 2-2 eight minutes into the half.
With the score still tied, freshman Nicole Gray scored her first collegiate goal for the Sand Sharks. After a couple of passes helped USCB maintain possession, Gray found the back of the net to give the Sand Sharks a 3-2 lead at the 70-minute mark.
Gary Boughton stated "Shoutout to Nicole on her first, of hopefully many, game winners for us!"
The Sand Shark defense held off the Sailfish's final attack, as Palm Beach Atlantic rattled off three more shots after USCB took the lead.
USCB closed out the season-opening victory, defeating the Sailfish 3-2.
"We saw a lot of things from the group we liked and areas we know we can get better" stated coach Boughton.
The Sand Sharks return to action Sunday morning at 10 a.m. against Barry in the second of three consecutive road games.
Stay tuned to uscbathletics.com and follow Sand Shark Athletics on social media for the latest news, updates, and information.
