Oct. 7, 2004

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The No. 10/17 South Carolina men’s soccer team will battle archrival Clemson on Sunday, Oct. 10, in Columbia at Stone Stadium. The match is set for a 2 p.m. kickoff and the first 250 fans to arrive will receive a free Beat Clemson t-shirt. In addition, kids 13-and-under who wear Garnet and Black to the match will be admitted free of charge.

South Carolina comes into the match with a 7-1-1 record after a pair of come-from-behind wins last week. Trailing 1-0 at the half, the Gamecocks earned a 4-1 road win at Davidson on Sept. 29. The Gamecocks rallied back from a 2-0 halftime deficit on Oct. 3 to top Gardner-Webb, 3-2. USC will attempt to win its fourth straight match and improve its record to 5-0 at home in 2004.

South Carolina is ranked in all four of the national polls this week. USC is No. 10 in the Soccer America poll, and ranks 17th in the adidas/NSCAA Coaches’ Poll. According to Soccer Times, the Gamecocks are 18th and College Soccer News’ has them at 19th.

After an impressive showing last week, junior defender Josh Alcala leads the Gamecocks in scoring with nine points on three goals and three assists. Sophomore forward Ayo Akinsete is the team’s leading goal scorer with four. Eric Szeszcyki, Sebastian Lindholm and Ryan Deter are in a three-way tie for third, all with seven points.

Sophomore goalkeeper Brad Guzan has 47 saves and three shutouts to his credit. Guzan, a preseason All-America candidate, also has a 1.08 goals-against average.

Overall, the Gamecocks have out-scored their opponents, 19-10, and have 137-120 shot advantage.

Clemson brings a 6-3-0 record into Sunday’s match with South Carolina. The Tigers split a pair of games over the weekend in their own Classic, defeating Virginia Tech, 1-0, and falling to Hofstra, 3-0. Clemson is receiving votes in both the NSCAA and Soccer Times polls.

The Tigers are led in scoring by Stephen Rhyne, who has totaled 17 points on seven goals and three assists in 2004. Justin Moore ranks second with seven points on two goals and three assists.

Phil Marfuggi has handled the majority of the goalkeeping duties, playing 711:11. Marfuggi has given up 11 goals and owns a 1.39 goals-against average. He also has 25 saves.