Oct. 1, 2004
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The No. 15 University of South Carolina men’s soccer team (6-1-1) will look for its second victory of the week on Sunday, Oct. 3, as Gardner Webb University (2-7-0) visits Columbia and Stone Stadium. The match is a part of a USC doubleheader that will kick off at 1p.m. when the Gamecock women’s squad takes on No. 19 Tennessee. All kids under the age of 13 will be admitted free to both games.
Both contests will also be broadcast live on South Carolina’s official athletic web site, www.uscsports.com. Richard Rowell and former Gamecock standout Tim Glowienka will have the call.
The Gamecocks, who are back at home for the first time since Sept. 12, will attempt to extend their win streak to three straight matches. USC also sports a 3-0-0 record in games played at Stone Stadium this season. On Sept. 24, South Carolina earned a tough 1-0 road win over Wake Forest and followed that performance with a come-from-behind win at Davidson College on Wednesday, 4-1. Against the Wildcats, USC faced a 1-0 halftime deficit, but an offensive outburst that saw four different players score goals secured the win. Junior forward Ryan Detter opened the Gamecocks’ scoring, putting away his second goal of the season. Sophomore forward Mike Sambursky tallied the game-winner, also his second goal in 2004. Junior defender Josh Alcala and freshman midfielder Jose Ramos netted their first goals of the season to round out the scoring. In addition to their goals, Detter and Sambursky each had an assist in the win.
Gardner Webb, which competes in the Atlantic Sun Conference, enters the tilt with a 2-7-0 record and coming off a 4-0 loss at Clemson on Sept. 28. South Carolina and GWU have met once before. The Gamecocks produced a 5-0 triumph in Columbia during the 2001 season.
Junior forward Ayo Akinsete is Carolina’s offensive leader with eight points on four goals. Freshman forward Sebastian Lindholm ranks second on the team with seven points on two goals and three assists. Sambursky and Detter are tied for third with six points apiece, each with two goals and two assists. Nine different players have scored at least one goal for South Carolina.
In goal, preseason All-American sophomore Brad Guzan has played every minute of the season for USC. Guzan owns an 0.97 goals-against average and three shutouts. He also has 46 saves.
After a one-week absence from the national polls, South Carolina returned to the rankings. The Gamecocks are ranked 15th by Soccer America and the NSCAA and are No. 23 in the Soccer Times and College Soccer News polls. The No. 15 ranking is the highest for USC this season.
Sunday’s match with GWU also begins a stretch of three consecutive games at home. On Sunday, Oct. 10, South Carolina will entertain its archrival, the Clemson Tigers, at Stone Stadium. Kickoff for the match is scheduled for 2 p.m. and all kids who wear Garnet and Black to the match will be admitted free of charge. Carolina closes out the three-game homestand on Oct. 13 with a 7 p.m. match against Charlotte.
