Sept. 19, 2004

PHILADELPHIA –
The No. 18/24 South Carolina men’s soccer team forged a 2-2 tie with Princeton University on Sunday afternoon in its final match of the Penn Classic in Philadelphia at Rhodes Field. The Gamecocks saw their record move to 4-1-1 while the Tigers are now 3-1-1.

South Carolina twice held a one-goal lead in the match, but was unable to hold off Princeton comebacks. Sophomore forward Ayo Akinsete put USC on top just before the halftime break. Akinsete scored on an assist from sophomore Mike Sambursky at the 42:55 mark. The goal was Akinsete’s fourth on the season and Samburksy’s assist marked the first of his career.

Princeton tied match less than five minutes into the second half, at the 49:32 mark, when Ryan Rich fired a shot from 20-yards out into the back of the net.

Junior defender Greg Reece regained the lead for the Gamecocks in the 60th minute. Reece, who scored a goal for the second time in his career, took a pass from junior Josh Alcala and drove the ball into the upper left corner of the goal.

The Tigers responded once again as Alex Reison secured the game-tying goal on an assist from Rich. Neither team broke the tie during the remainder of regulation or 20 minutes of overtime.

Carolina sophomore goalkeeper Brad Guzan posted nine saves in the match, which is the second-highest total in his career. He stopped 10 shots against Wake Forest on Oct. 12, 2003. Tiger goalkeeper Erik White recorded five saves in today’s match.

Princeton out-shot South Carolina, 14-12, overall. Eric Szeszycki led USC with three shots, all of which were on goal.

In its first match of the Penn Classic on Friday, South Carolina fell to the host Quakers, 2-1.

The Gamecocks will look to get back on the winning track as they continue their four-match road swing next Friday, Sept. 24, at the Wake Forest. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. at Spry Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C.