Sept. 18, 2007

Live Stats | South Carolina Game Notes

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of South Carolina men’s soccer team continues the non-conference portion of its schedule at No. 9 Duke this Wednesday. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Koskinen Stadium in Durham, N.C. Entering the mid-week matchup, Carolina has won two consecutive games, most recently defeating Lipscomb, 2-0, on Sunday to capture the adidas Gamecock Classic tournament title. The all-time series is tied at 8-8-2. South Carolina won the last meeting, 1-0, at Stone Stadium during the 2004 season.

TOURNAMENT CHAMPS!
Despite not being able to play one game of their own tournament due to adverse weather, the Gamecocks earned a winning result against Lipscomb in the finale of the adidas Gamecock Classic last Sunday to claim the tournament crown. Freshman forward Blake Brettschneider and senior midfielder J.D. Moon each tallied one goal in the 2-0 Carolina win. Four members of the squad earned All-Tournament accolades. Freshman goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer was named the tournament’s Defensive MVP, while Brettschneider, junior midfielder Spencer Lewis and sophomore defender Mark Wiltse also earned All-Tournament honors.

PACING THE OFFENSIVE ATTACK
Carolina freshman forwards Sam Arthur and Blake Brettschneider have certainly lived up to preseason expectations. The duo has combined for five of Carolina’s nine goals on the year and 38 shots this season. Through six games, one half of the duo has registered at least one goal in all four of Carolina’s victories this season, while they have both contributed points in two contests. Arthur leads the Gamecocks with three goals, while Brettshneider has two for the year.

GAURDING THE LINE
Freshman goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer is enjoying a solid start to his collegiate career for the Gamecocks. His 1.00 goals against average ranks fourth among Conference USA competitors, while his .793 save percentage ranks third. Maurer most recently earned adidas Gamecock Classic Defensive MVP honors for recording his second shutout victory of the season in a 2-0 win over Lipscomb.

WORKING A LITTLE OVERTIME
Carolina has played two games that have gone into overtime this season, going 2-0-0 in those contests. The Gamecocks defeated then-No. 12 Clemson in the final minute of double overtime in the season opener on Aug. 31. The Gamecocks overcame a one-goal deficit late in the second half against Wofford on Sept. 11 to force overtime, eventually defeating the Terriers 2-1 in just the second minute of the first overtime session. Last season, the Gamecocks compiled a 1-1-1 record in overtime games.

YOUNG CROWD
Carolina fields an extremely young, but talented, group of starters this season. Five true freshmen have earned a starting position for head coach Mark Berson (Arthur, Brettschneider, Maurer, O’Dell, Stewart), while four sophomores (Burstein, Ruthven, Scannella, Wiltse), one junior (Smith) and one senior (Moon) have also garnered starting spots.

CAREER DAY
Junior midfielder Kevan Hawkins had a career day in the overtime victory against Wofford. He tallied three shots on goal, including the game winner in the 92nd minute. The goal marked the first of his career as a Gamecock.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
As a team, the Gamecocks rank second in the league with 81 shots taken, while Carolina’s three shutouts on the year also rank second among league competitors. Freshman Blake Brettschneider is tied for first in C-USA in shots (23) and shots per game (3.83), while classmate Sam Arthur is tied for second in the league with eight points (three goals-two assists) and is tied for third with three goals this season.

SCOUT REPORT – DUKE BLUE DEVILS
•• The Blue Devils have lost two out of their last three games, including a most recent 1-0 loss to then-No. 9 West Virginia.

•• Mike Grella and Paul Dudley pace the offensive attack with three goals each, while adding two and one assists, respectively, for the year.

•• Goalkeeper Justin Papadakis has allowed two goals in 434 minutes of play, a 0.41 goals against average. He also has two shutouts to his credit this season.

•• The Blue Devils have tallied wins this season against Villanova, Valparaiso and then-No. 12 Saint Louis.