Sept. 1, 2009

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina senior Blakely Mattern earned her second honor in the opening week of the season after being named to the Soccer America National Team of the Week Tuesday. Mattern was also named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week after South Carolina’s dominating defensive effort in shutout victories over College of Charleston and Western Carolina.

Mattern acted as team leader at center back for a defense that allowed only two shots – one on goal – in 180 minutes of soccer with shutout wins against College of Charleston and Western Carolina. In charge of the backline, Mattern led the Gamecocks into holding the Cougars without a shot until the 65th minute of the match. In Sunday’s game against Western Carolina, the Gamecock defense held the Catamounts without a shot for the entire 90-minute contest, the fourth time in program history that an opponent was held without a shot for an entire game. All four instances came under current head coach Shelley Smith, and Mattern started at center back in three of those games.

South Carolina (2-0-0) returns to action this weekend when the team travels to Louisville, Ky., to compete in the Cardinal Classic. The Gamecocks will take on the host Louisville Cardinals Friday at 7 p.m. before taking on Cincinnati Sunday at 11 a.m.