Feb. 6, 2008

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Gamecock men’s soccer team has announced a group of eight student-athletes who will continue their academic and athletic careers at the University of South Carolina beginning in the fall of 2008. The celebrated class includes two United States National Team U-17 residency program participants, three of the nation’s top 25 recruits for the 2008 signing class (Rise Magazine), three two-time Adidas Elite Soccer Program selections, three NSCAA Adidas High School All-Americans, four members of their respective Region ODP (Olympic Development Program) squads and six NSCAA Adidas High School All-Region team honorees.

“We are absolutely delighted with this recruiting class,” South Carolina head coach Mark Berson said. “Both the playing ability and the quality of character of these young men are outstanding and we are confident this class will help our team in the near term. We wanted to build on the two excellent classes we have had in the last two years. I think our staff, particularly coach Molinary, has done an outstanding job. We addressed our positional needs on the field for the coming year and we did so with some talented young men. We have a very young and talented team returning from last year, and with the addition of these new Gamecock players we look forward to the future.”

Biographical sketches, comments from the student-athletes and coach Berson are listed below.

2008 Signing Class

David MacVane

:: Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Saratoga Springs High School
:: 6’0, 165 lbs. – MF

Participated in the United States U-17 National Team residency program… Member of U-14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 United States National Teams… Rise Magazine selection as the No. 7 recruit nationally for the 2008 signing class… Adidas ESP selection, 2006, 2007… Adidas ESP All Star, 2006… Adidas ESP International trip 2006, Liverpool, England… 2007 NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America) Adidas High School All-American… Also named NSCAA All-East Region… Was named 2006 Adidas Youth All-American… Member of the Region I ODP (Olympic Development Program) team… International experience includes competition in England, Ireland, Scotland, Mexico, Argentina, Spain, Germany, Brazil, Japan and Canada… Played club soccer for New York Kosmos and NJ PDA… Club team was two-time New York State Cup champions… Team also won Super Y Regional championship and Eastern New York Premier League title… Helped lead club squad to Super Y and Region I nationals… Kosmos squad also captured Bethesda, Jefferson Cup, Oakwood Invitational and Disney Showcase championships… Plays for coach Doug Lennenger at Saratoga Springs High School… Named 2007 Times Union Player of the Year during prep career… Also earned all-conference and all-state accolades… Missed two years of high school competition due to residency with the United States National Team program… Plans on majoring in sport management at South Carolina… Full name is David Lloyd MacVane… Son of David Sr. and Kimberly MacVane.

David MacVane on choosing South Carolina: “South Carolina has a good sports management program, which I really liked. I also really like the coaches, facility and soccer program.”

Coach Berson on David MacVane: “David is a creative attacking midfielder who has great vision, sees the game well and opens up the game well with his passes. He’s also a threat to come forward and strike at goal. David’s greatest strength is the creativity he brings to the center of the midfield. He has competed at a high level with the U-18 National Team program, and that experience will be important as he comes into our program.”

Brandon Tarr

:: Knoxville, Tenn./Christian Academy of Knoxville
:: 5’8, 160 lbs. – MF/F

Participated in the United States U-17 National Team residency program… Member of U-15 United States National Team… Rise Magazine selection as the No. 25 recruit nationally for the 2008 signing class… Member of Region III ODP (Olympic Development Program) team… Member of Tennessee ODP team that won Region III title in 2005… Adidas ESP selection, 2006, 2007… 2007 NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America) Adidas High School All-South Region team member… International experience includes competition in Belgium, Holland, England, Argentina, Northern Ireland and Mexico… Played club soccer for the Tennessee Futbol Club and coach Ajit Korgaokar… Plays for coach Tom Gerlach at Christian Academy of Knoxville… Named Player of the Year for East Tennessee region… During prep career, garnered all-state, all-region, all-district accolades… Also named team MVP and offensive MVP… High school squad won state title all four years of his career… Plans on majoring in business at South Carolina… Full name is Brandon Douglas Tarr… Son of Jack and Kathy Tarr.

Brandon Tarr on choosing South Carolina: “I chose the University of South Carolina because of the prestigious soccer program and reputation of excellence for academics. I feel like South Carolina is the best place for me to further my career as an athlete and as a student.”

Coach Berson on Brandon Tarr: “Brandon is an out-and-out attacking player who has proven himself at the club, state, national and international level with the United States U-17 National Team. He is very good in taking players on and he is a threat to score with either foot. He’s equally efficient playing wide in the midfield and up front. Brandon will certainly add a big boost to our attack.”

Danny Cates

:: Irmo, S.C./Dutch Fork High School
:: 6’0, 165 – D/MF

Rise Magazine selection as the No. 23 recruit nationally for the 2008 signing class… NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America) Adidas High School All-American in 2006 and 2007… Adidas ESP selection in 2006 and 2007… Region III ODP (Olympic Development Program) team member… Garnered NSCAA Adidas High School All-South Region honors all four years at Dutch Fork… SCYSA (South Carolina Youth Soccer Association) ODP team member, 2005-08… Plays club soccer for Lexington United 89 under South Carolina head coach Mark Berson… Club squad earned South Carolina state title in 2006, runner-up in 2007… Team was also Region III Premier League runner-up in 2008… GFC state champions in 2005… Plays for coach Wayne Quinlan at Dutch Fork High School… All-state team member in 2007… Three-time all-area and all-region honoree during prep career… Helped lead team to 2007 region championship… Super 22 honoree, 2005-07… Plans on majoring in sport management at South Carolina… Full name is Patrick Daniel Cates… Son of Robert and Maureen Cates.

Danny Cates on choosing South Carolina: “I’ve wanted to be a Gamecock all my life having grown up in the area. South Carolina is an excellent school, both academically and athletically. It’s a great soccer school and I want to win a national championship.”

Coach Berson on Danny Cates: “Danny is a very explosive player who can play in the midfield, up front or on the back line in defense. He has very good speed, he is good at taking players on and he finishes very well. Danny is also good in the air, and he is very adaptable in his approach to the game, in that he can play almost any position on the field. Danny is a tremendous competitor and he will bring a lot of that intensity with him to the Carolina program.”

Hunter Howayeck

:: Jacksonville, Fla./The Bolles School
:: 6’2, 165 lbs. – D/MF

Member of United States Youth National Team player pool… ODP (Olympic Development Program) Region III team member, 2006, 2008… ODP Florida state team, 2005-08… Four-year captain of Florida ODP squad… Played club soccer for Futsoc USA Enigma in Western, Fla., under coach Jose Tamayo… Also played club soccer for First Coast KYX in Jacksonville, Fla., for coach Sean Steed… Futsox squad was a 2006 Raleigh Shootout finalist… KYX team ranked as high as No. 10 in the nation… Captured Atlanta Cup championship in 2007… Florida State Cup finalist in 2007… Plays for coach Jim Lieb at The Bolles School… Led high school squad in goals, 2005-07 and assists in 2008… Team was 2005 Florida State High School Final Four team and 2006 finalist… Also competed in cross country, tennis and track… Extracurricular activities include: class president, Chinese Club president, Find-A-Cure Club president… Honor roll member… State of Florida National Young Youth Leadership Conference nominee… State of Florida Chinese Competition Finalist, 2007-08… Full name is Thomas Hunter Howayeck… Plans on majoring in international business/Chinese at South Carolina… Son of Captain James Steven and Jennifer Ross Howayeck.

Hunter Howayeck on choosing South Carolina: “I chose the University of South Carolina for its superior soccer program and the outstanding International Business major.”

Coach Berson on Hunter Howayeck: “Hunter is a rangy player who can play in the back or midfield. He’s very good at the wide positions both in the midfield and on the back line. Hunter has also played centrally in defense and has done very well. Hunter organizes the game well and he’s good in the air. He is very good technically, and he reads the game well coming forward with the ball.”

Stephen Morrissey

:: Franklin, Tenn./Battle Ground Academy
:: 6’0, 170 – MF

2007 NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America) Adidas High School All-South Region… Played club soccer for the Tennessee Futbol Club and coach Ajit Korgaokar… Helped lead team to five state championships in club soccer… Plays for coach Rob Mitchell at Battle Ground Academy… Team earned 2006 Division II state high school soccer championship… Selected to all-state team, 2006-07… Also played basketball and ran track during prep career… Full name is Stephen Fischer Morrissey… Son of Steve and Laura Morrissey… Sister, Katie Morrissey, played soccer at Tennessee Tech.

Steven Morrissey on choosing South Carolina: “I really liked the atmosphere on campus. It felt like a perfect fit.”

Coach Berson on Steven Morrissey: “Steven is another player that has a lot of versatility. He can play in the midfield as a balancing, defensive or attacking midfielder. He can also play in the middle, and wide in the back line as well. He has good size, strength and speed and is a very determined and tenacious tackler. Steven is good distributing the ball in the midfield and has good vision.”

Daniel Lynch

:: Irmo, S.C./Irmo High School
:: 6’1, 175 lbs. – D

2007 NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America) Adidas High School All-South Region… Plays club soccer for Lexington United 89 under South Carolina head coach Mark Berson… Club squad earned South Carolina state title in 2006, runner-up in 2007… Team was also Region III Premier League runner-up in 2007… Plays for coach Phil Savitz at Irmo High School… Named to the all-region IV 4A team and all-state 4A team in 2007… Also named high school’s most outstanding defensive player in 2007… Earned Captains Award during junior season… Member of high school squad that won 2005 Region V championships and lower-state championship… Team also earned NSCAA team academic award from 2005-07… Earned Irmo High School Academic Excellence Award in 2007… Plans on majoring in psychology at South Carolina… Full name is William Dan Lynch III… Son of Danny and Sherryl Lynch.

Daniel Lynch on choosing South Carolina: “I chose the University of South Carolina because I felt it was a good fit for me based on location, academic excellence and the history of the Gamecock soccer program.”

Coach Berson on Daniel Lynch: “Daniel has played primarily as a defender, but he can also play in the midfield line. He has good quickness, size and strength. He reads the game very well, passes well and is also very strong in the air.”

Luke Berson

:: Columbia, S.C./Dreher High School
:: 6’0, 170lbs. – D

Plays for coach Matt Hornsby at Dreher High School… Earned SCHSA All-Region honors in 2007… Team earned lower-state championship and was state runner-up in 2006… Plays club soccer for Lexington United 89 under South Carolina head coach Mark Berson… Club squad earned South Carolina state title in 2006, runner-up in 2007… Team was also Region III Premier League runner-up in 2007… Member of the National Honor Society… “A” Honor roll member… President of the Dreher High School Outdoor Club… Plans on majoring in biology at South Carolina… Full name is Luke William Berson… Son of South Carolina head coach Mark Berson and Shauna Berson… Father, Mark, and uncle Steve Berson, played soccer at the University of North Carolina.

Luke Berson on choosing South Carolina: “South Carolina is a great school which will give me a chance to get a great education and prepare me for life.”

Coach Berson on Luke Berson: “Luke is a central defender who is good in the air and reads the game well. He also knows how to organize his defense and organizes things well in the back. In terms of his distribution, he rarely loses the ball after he wins a tackle coming forward. His primary position will be as a central defender.”

Ross Power

:: Columbia, S.C./Hammond School
:: 6’0, 168 lbs. – GK

Plays for coach Adrian Pinasco at Hammond School… 2007 High School Sports Report All-State Team… 2007 SCISA (South Carolina Independent School Association) all-region and all-state honoree… 2007 SCISA all star… Team advanced to state semi-finals in 2007… Plays club soccer for Lexington United 89 under South Carolina head coach Mark Berson… Club squad earned South Carolina state title in 2006, runner-up in 2007… Team was also Region III Premier League runner-up in 2007… Also wrestled for Hammond School… Individual state wrestling champion all four years of prep career, 2005-08… Led prep squad to state wrestling title, 2005-08… Honor roll member… Plans on majoring in business at South Carolina… Full name is Ross Chappell Power… Son of Woody and Martha Power.

Ross Power on choosing South Carolina: “I chose South Carolina for a few reasons. First, on an academic level USC is my top choice in a college. I’ve grown up around the University my entire life and I know that it has high academic standards as well as quality athletics. I chose to play soccer here because it’s a great opportunity for me as a player to compete at a very strong Division I school. I also really like the coaching staff at USC, most of which I have known for a long time and have been coached by through club soccer.”

Coach Berson on Ross Power: “Ross is a goalkeeper from Hammond Academy in Columbia. He is a very good athlete who is a four-time state wrestling champion. He has played very well in the goal for Hammond and for his club team, Lexington United. The big challenge for Ross, and any goalkeeper coming into the college game, will be the adjustment to the speed of the game and the quality of the shots and crosses that he will have to deal with at this level.”