Aug. 16, 2005
DALLAS – The University of South Carolina men’s soccer team was selected to finish fourth in the Conference USA Preseason Poll as voted by the league’s coaches, the conference office announced Tuesday. Carolina joins the 10-team league as an affiliate member in 2005.
“It’s a real compliment to be picked in the top four of the conference,” head coach Mark Berson, who ranks No. 5 in among active Division I coaches with 379 victories, said. “We are lining up to compete with some of the best teams in the country in one of the strongest conferences in the country. We have played a number of the teams throughout our history, but other than FIU and UAB, we haven’t played any of these teams recently so there is going to be a steep learning curve as we navigate our way around the conference. The good news is that all of the teams are in the same boat in that regard. It’s clear that every contest this season in Conference USA is going to be tough, and we are looking forward to getting the season underway.”
SMU was picked to win the conference crown, while Tulsa and 2004 C-USA Champion Memphis were chosen second and third, respectively. UAB followed the Gamecocks in fifth. Fellow affiliate members Kentucky and Florida International were sixth and seventh. UCF, Marshall and East Carolina round out the last three slots, respectively.
The top eight finishers in the regular season earn a spot in the 2005 Conference USA Tournament. Quarterfinal matches will be played the weekend of Nov. 4-6 at the home sites of the top four seeds. The two semifinals and championship match will be hosted by the top remaining seed, Nov. 11 and 13.
Gamecock seniors Josh Alcala and Eric Szeszycki appeared on the Players to Watch List. Alcala ranked fifth on the team in scoring last season, finshing with 11 points on three goals and five assists. Szeszcyki, a team captain, scored 14 points last season on five goals and four assists. UAB’s Leandro de Oliveira and Dayton O’Brien of Memphis are the Preseason Co-Offensive Players of the Year. Kentucky goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum is the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
USC is currently in the midst of two-a-day practices leading up the start of classes on Aug. 18. The Gamecocks play their first exhibition match on Saturday, Aug. 20, at Furman. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
2005 C-USA PRESEASON POLL
(as selected by C-USA men’s soccer coaches) 1. SMU
2. Tulsa
3. Memphis
4. South Carolina
5. UAB
6. Kentucky
7. Florida International
8. UCF
9. Marshall
10. East Carolina
2005 C-USA PRESEASON AWARDS
C-USA PRESEASON Co-OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR Dayton O’Brien, Sr., F/MF, Memphis
Leandro de Oliveira, Sr., MF, UAB
C-USA PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Andy Gruenebaum, Sr., GK, Kentucky
CONFERENCE USA PLAYERS TO WATCH Brian Pope, Jr., GK, East Carolina
J.W. Gallagher, So., F, East Carolina
Carron Williams, Sr., F, Florida International
Lucas Scudeler, Sr., MF, Florida International
Andy Gruenebaum, Sr., GK, Kentucky
Brandon Stewart, Sr., D, Kentucky
Jared Dombrowski, Sr., D, Marshall
Kirk Gibson, Sr., MF, Marshall
Dayton O’Brien, Sr., F/MF, Memphis
Andy Metcalf, Sr., F, Memphis
Kellan Zindel, Sr., MF, SMU
David Chun, Sr., MF, SMU
Josh Alcala, Sr., MF, South Carolina
Eric Szeszycki, Sr., MF, South Carolina
Kyle Brown, Sr., F, Tulsa
Daniel Wasson, Sr., MF, Tulsa
Leandro de Oliveira, Sr., MF, UAB
Sandy Gbandi, Jr., MF, UAB
Ryan McIntosh, Sr., GK, UCF
Phillip Michael Hall, So., D, UCF
