Sept. 29, 2004
DAVIDSON, N.C. – The 15th-ranked South Carolina men’s soccer team rallied from a 1-0 deficit at halftime to defeat Davidson, 4-1, Wednesday night on the road at Richardson Stadium. The Gamecocks snapped Davidson’s two-game win streak in the series and improved to 6-1-1 on the season. The Wildcats fell to 3-5-0.
“We came out lethargic in the first half, and we needed to snap out of it,” USC coach Mark Berson said. “We adjusted some things with the way we were playing, and gave a quality effort in the second half. I give credit to our team for recognizing that and stepping up to the challenge. To come back from a goal down on the road against a very tough team at home and score four goals is huge. I think it’s a testimony to the character of this team, and I’m very proud.”
Sophomore forward Mike Sambursky and junior forward Ryan Detter both scored a goal and added an assist for South Carolina.
Davidson scored the game’s first goal in the 22nd minute of the match. Following a South Carolina foul just outside the top of the circle, Wildcat freshman Robby Hoak converted a free kick into the bottom left corner of the goal.
The Gamecocks tied things up 49th minute. Near the top of the 18-yard box, Detter back-heeled a ball to Sambursky. Sambursky fired a shot into the upper left corner of the net for his second goal of the season.
Barely more than three minutes passed before Detter tallied a goal of his own. Sophomore defender Cody Perrot crossed the ball from the right side of the field to the far post and Detter was there to head it in for the 2-1 lead.
South Carolina pushed its lead to 3-1 at the 72:20 mark. During a scramble inside the six-yard box, junior defender Josh Alcala deflected the ball in for his first goal of the year.
Freshman Jose Ramos tallied his first career goal in the 83rd minute. Sambursky hit Ramos with a pass just outside the 18 and Ramos chipped a shot over reserve goalkeeper Jordan Hauser’s head for the Gamecocks’ fourth goal of the night.
South Carolina made the most of its quality chances in scoring a season-best four goals on eight shots. Sophomore goalie Brad Guzan recorded eight saves in the victory.
The Gamecocks return home on Sunday, Oct. 3, to host Gardner Webb. The match is part of a USC doubleheader as the Gamecock women’s team takes on Tennessee at 1 p.m. and the men’s match will follow at approximately 4 p.m.
