Oct. 12, 2004
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The No. 7/8 South Carolina men’s soccer team wraps up a three-match homestand on Wednesday when the Charlotte 49ers visit Columbia. Kickoff for the match is at 7 p.m. and it’s Armed Forces Night at Stone Stadium. Fans can show a military ID and get into the match for free.
A live audio broadcast of the match will be available on www.uscsports.com with Richard Rowell and Tim Glowienka calling all the action. (Click on the Listen Live link on the right-hand side of the page). In addition, fans can follow the match live through Gametracker on the web site. (Click on the men’s soccer schedule page and find the Gametracker link next to the Charlotte match.)
The Gamecocks are currently 8-1-1 on the season and riding a four-match win streak. Carolina is ranked in all four of the national soccer polls. In the National Soccer Coaches’ Association of America poll, the Gamecocks moved up 10 spots from last week to No. 7. USC is ranked eighth by Soccer America, rising from No. 10 last week. According to Soccer Times, the Gamecocks are No. 15 (up from 18th a week ago) and College Soccer News ranks USC 14th.
Charlotte enters Wednesday’s tilt with a 5-4-1 record. The 49ers fell at home to Cincinnati, 3-0, in their last outing on Oct. 9, but that loss followed Conference-USA wins on the road at East Carolina, 2-1, on Oct. 6, and at Saint Louis, 2-0, on Oct. 2.
South Carolina picked up a 1-0 victory over archrival Clemson on Sunday in front of 4,312 fans, the 15th-largest crowd in Stone Stadium history. Head coach Mark Berson reached a milestone, winning his 375th career match. Junior Ryan Detter netted the game-winning goal on an assist by sophomore Michael Sambursky whle sophomore Brad Guzan turned in a stellar performance in goal with seven saves and his fourth shutout of the year.
Detter and junior defender Josh Alcala are tied for the team lead with nine points apiece for South Carolina. Both players have three goals and three assists to their credit. Sophomore forward Ayo Akinsete is the Gamecocks’ leading goal scorer with four in 2004. Junior Eric Szeszycki, freshman Sebastian Lindholm and Samburksy have compiled seven points, the third-most on the team, for the Garnet and Black. Guzan owns an 0.98 goals-against average to go with four shutouts and 54 saves. Guzan ranks No. 32 nationally in saves per game, averaging 5.4 per match.
Against Charlotte, USC will look to improve to 6-0-0 at home this season. Wednesday’s match is the last at home for the Gamecocks until Oct. 27. The Gamecocks hit the road to take on North Carolina (Oct. 16), College of Charleston (Oct. 20) and UNC Wilmington (Oct. 23) before returning to Stone Stadium for a match with Furman on Oct. 27.
