Sept. 27, 2006
,> University of South Carolina head soccer coach Mark Berson won his 400th career game as the No. 6 Gamecocks shut down No. 25 UAB, 2-0, Wednesday night at Stone Stadium in Columbia. Freshman Cory Lewis scored both goals, the first of his Carolina career, to lead the Gamecocks to their ninth straight victory.
South Carolina improved to 9-1-0 overall and 2-0-0 in Conference USA play. The Blazers fell to 5-4-1 and 1-1-0 in league action.
“I’m very pleased tonight because this was a conference game, a very important game, and UAB is a very good team,” Berson said. “I thought we played well from wire-to-wire. We never really let UAB in it at all. I think we grew a little tonight.”
Berson, who is in his 29th season at South Carolina and 30th season of collegiate coaching, became just the fifth active coach to reach 400 wins and the 11th in Division I history. He is also the 21st coach in NCAA history, regardless of division, to win 400 games.
“Something like that sort of evolves over time,” Berson said of winning his 400th career match. “I never really honestly thought about it at all. I plan on coaching for awhile yet. Knowing the coaches (who have reached 400 wins) and that fraternity of people I know, it is a real honor. It’s not often you get to be at one place for such a long time.”
Lewis came off the bench for South Carolina in the 25th minute and quickly made his mark on the match, sticking his first goal less than a minute later. The Alpharetta, Ga., product headed in a corner kick by classmate Jeff Scannella to give South Carolina a 2-0 lead at the 26:32 mark. Scannella earned his fourth assist of the season.
“I was at the right place at the right time. (Jeff) Scannella knocked a great corner in the box and it hit me right on the head and I put in in,” Lewis said of his first career goal.
Lewis struck again in the 43rd minute. After a mis-cleared ball a few yards outside the 18-yard box, senior Ralph Pace flicked the ball to Lewis, who ripped a shot past Blazer goalkeeper Jeremy Drake and into the lower left corner of the net.
The Gamecocks own the nation’s longest win streak at nine games and are 21-3-2 in their last 26 matches, dating back to last year. Carolina improved to 4-1-0 all-time against UAB with tonight’s win.
South Carolina out-shot UAB 22-10, including an 8-2 margin in shots on goal. The Gamecocks also attempted eight corner kicks and gave up just four to the Blazers.
Drake was forced to make six saves in goal for UAB. Carolina’s defense secured its fifth shutout of the season and goalkeeper Mike Gustavson made two saves.
CSTV was on hand to broadcast tonight’s match. The broadcast will first air on Sunday, Oct. 1, at 8:30 p.m. CSTV is available on Comcast, Time Warner, Cox, Charter, Adelphia and Insight cable systems, among others, and is also available on DirecTV (channel 610) and DISH Network (Channel 152). On Time Warner cable in Columbia, CSTV is channel 150.
South Carolina hits the road for a Conference USA match with Kentucky on Sunday, Oct. 1, in Lexington. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m.
