Sept. 5, 2005

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina men’s soccer team plays its 2005 home opener on Tuesday, Sept. 6, when the College of Charleston Cougars visit Columbia and Stone Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and the match is “Showtime at the Stone.” Fans can bring a recent movie ticket stub and get in for $1.

A live audio broadcast of the match will be available right here at USCsports.com with Richard Rowell calling all the action. Fans can also follow live statistics through Gametracker on the USC web site.

USC brings an 0-1 record into the match with the Cougars after losing a double-overtime heartbreaker at Clemson on Friday night, 2-1. It marked the first season-opening loss for South Carolina in the last nine years. Junior forward Mike Sambursky scored the goal against the Tigers on an assist from junior forward Ayo Akinsete. Freshman goalkeeper Mike Gustavson made six saves in his collegiate debut.

College of Charleston enters the match with a 1-1-0 record. The Cougars opened their season with a 5-1 victory over Western Michigan on Sept. 2 in their own Aaron Olitsky Memorial Classic. Vanderbilt defeated C of C on Sept. 3, 1-0. Junior forward Jeremy Gold scored a hat trick in the Cougars’ win over Western Michigan.

The Gamecocks own a 15-5-3 advantage in the all-time series with College of Charleston, including a 12-2-1 record at home. The two teams met twice in 2004 with C of C winning both matches. In Charleston, the Cougars beat USC, 3-0, on Oct. 20. In the NCAA Tournament first round match played in Columbia, C of C edged Carolina, 3-2, on Nov. 19.

Tuesday’s match opens a busy week in which the Gamecocks will play three matches against 2004 NCAA Tournament participants. South Carolina travels to the North Carolina Classic this weekend in Chapel Hill, N.C. USC battles No. 18 Wake Forest on Friday, Sept. 9, at 5 p.m. On Sunday, Sept. 11, the Gamecocks will close out play in the Classic against the No. 11 Tar Heels at 3:30 p.m. Rutgers is the fourth team competing in the Classic. All matches will be played at Fetzer Field on the UNC campus