May 12, 2004

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Eight matches against teams that participated in the NCAA Tournament a year ago, four of which are part of an 10-match home schedule, a home tournament and a pair of road tournaments are among the highlights of the 2004 South Carolina men’s soccer schedule, which was announced by Gamecock head coach Mark Berson on Wednesday.

South Carolina will open the 2004 campaign with a pair of home matches, as it hosts perennial Atlantic Coast Conference power Virginia in an exhibition contest on Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. The Gamecocks will then host William & Mary on Sept. 1 in the season opener, before heading south to face Jacksonville on Sept. 5.

The next weekend, South Carolina will return home to host the 18th annual adidas-South Carolina Gamecock Classic. In the event, the Gamecocks will face Bucknell on Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m., and then will square off with NCAA participant Portland on Sept. 12 at 2:30 p.m.

Following the Gamecock Classic, USC will hit the road for four-straight games, including a trip to Philadelphia, Pa., for the University of Pennsylvania Tournament, where the Gamecocks will meet Pennsylvania (Sept. 17) and Princeton (Sept. 19). South Carolina will then visit 2003 NCAA participants Wake Forest (Sept. 24) and Davidson (Sept. 29), before returning home for a three-game home stands.

That stretch will include the annual match-up with in-state rival Clemson at 2 p.m. on Oct. 10. After road contests at North Carolina (Oct. 16) and College of Charleston (Oct. 20), the Gamecocks will then be home for two matches, including contests against Furman on Oct. 27 at 7 p.m., and Duke on Oct. 31 at 2 p.m.

South Carolina will then wrap up the regular season by traveling to Charleston to face Coastal Carolina (Nov. 5) and Alabama A&M (Nov. 7) in the College of Charleston Tournament, before closing out the season with a home contest against Florida International on Nov. 14.

2004 SOUTH CAROLINA MEN'S SOCCER SCHEDULE
Aug. 26 VIRGINIA (Exh)  7 p.m.Sept. 1 WILLIAM & MARY  7 p.m.Sept. 5 at Jacksonville 5 p.m.Adidas-South Carolina Gamecock Classic, Columbia, S.C.Sept. 10    vs. Bucknell    7:30 p.m.Sept. 12    vs. Portland    2:30 p.m.University of Pennsylvania Tournament, Philadelphia, Pa.Sept. 17    vs. Pennsylvania    2:30 p.m.Sept. 19    vs. Princeton   NoonSept. 24    at Wake Forest  7 p.m.Sept. 29    at Davidson 7 p.m.Oct. 3  GARDNER WEBB    4 p.m.Oct. 10 CLEMSON 2 p.m.Oct. 13 CHARLOTTE   7 p.m.Oct. 16 at North Carolina   7 p.m.Oct. 20 at College of Charleston    6 p.m.Oct. 23 at UNC Wilmington   7 p.m.Oct. 27 FURMAN  7 p.m.Oct. 31 DUKE    2 p.m.College of Charleston Tournament, Charleston, S.C.Nov. 5  vs. Coastal Carolina    5 p.m.Nov. 7  vs. Alabama A&M 1 p.m.Nov. 14 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL   1 p.m.Nov. 19-20  NCAA First RoundNov. 27 NCAA Second RoundDec. 4  NCAA QuarterfinalsDec. 10-12  NCAA Championship