Sept. 19, 2007

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina sophomore defender Blakely Mattern (Simpsonville, S.C./JL Mann HS) was named to the Soccer Buzz Elite Team of the Week Wednesday, becoming the second Gamecock to earn the honor in the first three weeks of the season.

Mattern was a key cog in helping the 10th-ranked Gamecocks record three shutouts last week. In all three games, the Carolina defense held the opponent without a shot for an entire half – Winthrop in the second half, Charlotte in the first half and Furman in the first half. With Mattern patrolling the center, the Gamecocks gave up only 13 shots in three games, including holding Winthrop to two shots and Furman to one shot.

Mattern recorded an assist in wins over Charlotte and Furman at the Carolinas’ Cup, and her efforts earned her All-Tournament team honors. It was the second consecutive week that Mattern has been selected to an all-tournament team after earning Defensive MVP honors at the UCF Tournament the prior week.

This marks Mattern’s first appearance on the Soccer Buzz Elite Team of the Week, and she is only the second Gamecock to earn the honor after senior goalkeeper Lindsay Thorstenson made the team in the first week of the 2007 season. Mattern was previously named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week (9/10) and is a 2007 Preseason All-SEC selection.

South Carolina (7-0-0) returns to action Friday when they travel to Clemson for a 7 p.m. game. The Gamecocks, one of four Division 1 teams remaining with a perfect record, are in the midst of a school-best seven-game winning streak.