Nov. 9, 2006

Four University of South Carolina soccer players have earned national honors from Top Drawer Soccer, the online publication recently announced. Sophomore goalkeeper Mike Gustavson and senior forward Mike Sambursky are listed on the Team of the Season while freshman midfielder Jeff Scannella and freshman defender Mark Wiltse made the All-Rookie Team.

Gustavson, a second-year starter in goal for the Gamecocks, earned first-team honors. The Aiken, S.C., native played in every minute of every game in 2006 and made the all-Conference USA second team for the second straight year. Gustavson finished the 2006 season with 70 saves, six shutouts and a 1.09 goals-against average and earned C-USA Defensive Player of the Week honors twice.

Sambursky, who led South Carolina in scoring with 22 points on seven goals and eight assists in his final season, secured third-team honors. He was a first-team all-Conference USA selection for the second time in 2006 and finished in the top 10 in school history for career assists with 22. A native of Katy, Texas, Sambursky earned C-USA Offensive Player of the Week honors on two occasions this season.

Scannella and Wiltse are both members of the All-Rookie first team. Scannella, the Conference USA Freshman of the Year, finished as the Gamecocks’ third-leading scorer with 10 points on three goals and four assists. The midfielder from Alpharetta, Ga., was also named third-team all-Conference USA and earned spot on the league’s all-freshman team after starting every match this season. Wiltse, who hails from Belle Meade, N.J., started all 15 of the matches he played in at outside back. He also represented the Gamecocks on the conference’s all-freshman team.

South Carolina concluded its 2006 season last week with an 11-5-1 record.

For a complete list of the Team of the Season and the All-Rookie Team, visit www.topdrawersoccer.com.