Sept. 23, 2011
The South Carolina men’s soccer team begins Conference USA play this weekend, traveling to face Memphis at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex in Memphis, Tenn. The match will mark the first time that South Carolina has returned to the Complex since winning the 2010 Conference USA Tournament there last November.
GAME INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, September 24, 2011
Kick Off: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Memphis, Tenn.
Stadium: Mike Rose Soccer Complex
Series: South Carolina leads 3-2-2
Live Stats: GamecocksOnline.com
Free Live Video: Available via GameocksOnline.com
Game Updates: South Carolina men’s soccer Facebook and Twitter (@GamecockMSoccer)
Carolina Quick Hits
– South Carolina will play its first match since last Sunday when it travels to Memphis. The Gamecocks were set to host Wake Forest last Wednesday, but due to heavy rain and continued lightning in the area, the contest was postponed. The teams took to the field at 9:50 p.m., looking to start, however, a lightning strike in the area postponed the contest.
– Carolina’s trip to Memphis on Saturday marks its first match at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex since earning a 1-0 overtime win over Tulsa to claim the 2010 Conference USA Tournament last November. Then-junior midfielder Stephen Morrissey hit the game-winning penalty kick for the Gamecocks in the match.
– Saturday’s contest at Memphis marks the fifth road contest of the season for South Carolina.
– South Carolina has been a member of C-USA since the 2005 season. In that time, the Gamecocks are 6-0 in conference openers.
Series Information
South Carolina holds a slight 3-2-2 advantage in the all-time series vs. Memphis, which began with a 2-2 double overtime tie during the 2005 regular season. South Carolina earned a 3-0 win at Stone Stadium on Senior Day last year over the Tigers.
Scouting South Carolina
South Carolina enters Saturday’s contest with a 2-4-1 overall record. The squad is paced by senior midfielder Stephen Morrissey, who has three goals on the year, including one game winner and a perfect 2-of-2 mark on penalty kick opportunities. Freshman midfielder Braeden Troyer has started all seven games of his rookie campaign, scoring two goals on the young season, including the equalizer versus High Point last Sunday. Senior midfielder Vance Benson and sophomore midfielders Bradlee Baladez and J.P. Rafferty have contributed one goal each for the Gamecocks. Redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Alex Long enters Saturday’s match with 20 saves on the year and a 1.80 goals against average.
Scouting Memphis
The Tigers enter Saturday’s contest with a 5-1-1 record, receiving votes in the NSCAA Top 25 poll this week. The squad most recently suffered a 2-1 loss to Evansville last Sunday. Memphis has wins this season over Lipscomb, Belmont, Missouri State, Wisconsin and Bradley. The team is paced by Mark Sherrod with six goals on the year, which ranks tied with Kentucky’s Matt Lodge for third in Conference USA. Netminder Conor Hurley has played every minute in net thus far for the squad, owning a 0.94 goals against average with 19 saves and seven goals allowed on the year.
