Sept. 8, 2009

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina junior goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer has been named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week, and junior forward Sam Arthur has been named to the Soccer America Team of the Week, as announced by the organizations on Tuesday. The league honor is the sixth of Maurer’s career, making him the C-USA all-time leader for Defensive Player of the Week awards in a career. Arthur’s honor marks the second time that he has been named to the Soccer America Team of the Week. The duo helped lead the Gamecocks to a 2-0 start on the season with victories over Charlotte and archrival Clemson last week. South Carolina is ranked No. 25 in this week’s Soccer America poll.

Maurer allowed just one goal in two Gamecock victories last week. He collected four saves while allowing one goal in a 3-1 victory over Charlotte in the season opener last Tuesday, South Carolina’s third-consecutive season-opening victory. Maurer concluded the week with a three-save effort in a 1-0 shutout victory over archrival Clemson on Friday. The win, South Carolina’s third-straight shutout over Clemson, was Maurer’s third win over the Tigers during his time at South Carolina.

Arthur scored twice last week, first in South Carolina’s 3-1 season-opening victory over Charlotte, while he also scored the game-winner for the Gamecocks in a 1-0 victory over archrival Clemson on Friday. The honor marks the second time in Arthur’s career that he has been named to the Soccer America Team of the Week, as he was also named to the squad during the 2008 season.

South Carolina continues non-conference action when it hosts its annual adidas Gamecock Classic this weekend at Stone Stadium. Butler, George Mason and Presbyterian will also compete in the two-day event.