Sept. 8, 2006
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Freshman midfielder Jeff Scannella headed home his first career goal in the 82nd minute and No. 21 South Carolina defeated a feisty Temple team, 1-0, Friday on the first night of the adidas-Gamecock Classic. The Gamecocks extended their win streak to four straight games and will look for No. 5 on Sunday when they face Alabama A&Mon the final day of the Classic at 2:30p.m. Temple’s record slipped to 1-2-1.
“I’m very proud of our team tonight,” Carolina head coach Mark Berson said. “This is a very good win over a very good team. Temple is a well-organized, veteran team. They are very scrappy and physical and they don’t give away anything anywhere on the field. They make you earn everything.”
South Carolina (4-1-0) held a sizeable shots advantage most the match, but senior Mike Sambursky set up the game-winner with under eight minutes to play. The co-captain dribbled the ball through traffic along Temple’s end line and launched a beautiful pass the far post. Scannella was ready and waiting and knocked the ball over the line for the score.
Sambursky’s assists marked the fifth of the season and the 19th of his career. The preseason All-America needs just one more to break in the top 10 in South Carolina history. Sambursky paces the Gamecocks with nine points through five games (2 g, 5 a).
The Gamecocks out-shot the Owls, 18-6, and placed eight of those attempts on goal. Temple owned a slight margin on corner kicks, 7-6.
“We showed creativity and diversity in our attack all over the field tonight,” Berson said. “We’re continuing to develop and that’s a good sign. It was a solid win and a total team effort. “
Samburksy and senior Makan Hislop led South Carolina with four shots apiece. Eight Gamecocks attempted at least one shot in the win.
Mike Minai had two shots for Temple and forced Carolina goalkeeper Mike Gustavson to come up with his only save of the match with time winding down.
Temple goalkeeper Bryant Hosler finished with seven saves for the Owls.
