Aug. 28, 2006
SPARTANBURG, S.C. –The No. 24 South Carolina men’s soccer team earned its first win of the 2006 season with a 2-0 shutout against Wofford on Monday night at Snyder Field in Spartanburg. The Gamecocks evened their season record at 1-1 while the Terriers slipped to 1-1.
Sophomore Spencer Lewis (Irmo, S.C.) gave the Gamecocks a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute. Senior Mike Sambursky (Katy, Texas) got behind the Terrier defense and his initial shot was deflected. Lewis rebounded the deflection near the top of the 18-yard box and buried the shot for his first career goal. Sambursky was credited with his first assist of the year.
“In any game it’s important to score first, but it’s particularly important when you’re on the road. We wanted to make sure we got off to a good start.,” head coach Mark Berson said. “Wofford is a very hard-working team and we didn’t want to have a letdown. We were able to tighten up our defense and come away with a shutout. “
The Gamecocks pushed their lead to two at the 67-minute mark when Ayo Akinsete (London, England), after having pair second-half shots saved by Wofford goalkeeper Joey Taylor, hit paydirt. Sambursky played a nice pass ahead to Akinsete and the senior beat a Terrier defender to score from 8 yards out on the left side.
Carolina out-shot Wofford, 16-6, and attempted five corner kicks while giving up none to the Terriers.
“Defensively, we were much better tonight than we were in the season opener. I also thought it was a good, determined attacking effort for 90 minutes. Their goalkeeper was outstanding in making two or three point blank saves and we hit the crossbar, but we didn’t let the fact that those goals weren’t going in get us down.”
Gamecock sophomore goalkeeper Mike Gustavson saved one shot and secured his fifth career shutout. Taylor finished with five saves for the Terriers.
The USC Alumni Association hosted a cookout in conjunction with tonight’s match.
“We want to thank the Alumni Association for their support tonight,” Berson said. “The crowd last Friday night in Columbia was simply amazing, and again tonight we had a very vocal following of alumni from Spartanburg in the stands.”
Carolina next plays at William and Mary on Saturday, Sept. 2, at 7 p.m
