April 18, 2005
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Major League Soccer’s 10th anniversary season kicked off earlier this month and the University of South Carolina boasts three former players who occupy starting positions on their respective teams. Clint Mathis and Josh Wolff have been among the brightest stars in the United States over the last five years, while Brad Guzan is breaking on to the scene as one of the most promising young goalkeepers. All three played for head coach Mark Berson at South Carolina.
Following one season playing overseas for Hannover 96 of the German Budesliga, Clint Mathis made his return to the MLS in January, joining expansion club Real Salt Lake. He has started all three matches assisted on one goal for Real Salt Lake, which has a 1-1-1 record.
Mathis had previously played six seasons in the MLS, two-and-one-half for the Los Angeles Galaxy and three-and-a-half seasons for the New York/New Jersey Metro Stars. A two-time MLS All-Star., he has enjoyed considerable success on the international level as well, competing for the United States in the 2002 World Cup. Mathis remains a member of the U.S. Men’s National Team Pool.
The Conyers, Ga., native donned the Garnet and Black from 1995 to 1997 and departed as the Gamecocks’ third all-time leading scorer with 53 goals and 15 assists for 121 points. Mathis was a finalist for the Hermann Trophy and Missouri Athletic Club Player of the Year Award three times and earned All-American honors twice, in 1995 (first team) and 1997 (third team), while at South Carolina.
Coming off a career year in 2004, Josh Wolff is in his third season with the Kansas City Wizards and his eighth playing in the MLS. Before moving to Kansas City, he spent four-and-a-half seasons playing for the Chicago Fire. Wolff is off to a fast start in 2005 with one goal and two assists in two games as a starter for the Wizards (1-0-1).
Wolff is also a member of the United States Men’s National Team Pool and saw action in the team’s most recent match against Guatemala on March 30. In the 2000 Olympics games, he played every minute of six matches and helped the United States to a fourth-place finish, it’s best ever. The Stone Mountain, Ga. native joined fellow Gamecock Clint Mathis as a member of the World Cup team in 2002.
Wolff played at South Carolina from 1995 to 1997. He earned All-South Region honors in 1997 and made the All-Tournament team at the adidas/Gamecock Classic in 1996.
Brad Guzan is Carolina’s newest face in the MLS as the starting goalkeeper for expansion-team CD Chivas USA (0-2-1), which is based in Los Angeles. Guzan wrapped up his sophomore season at USC in 2004 before electing to turn pro. He made history in January, becoming the highest goalkeeper ever selected in the MLS Super Draft when he was chosen No. 2.
Guzan capped his South Carolina career as a National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-American in 2004. The Homer Glen, Ill., native also earned All-South Region honors and was named one of 11 Soccer America’s College MVPs following the season. He was also one of 15 semifinalists for the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy, awarded annually to college soccer’s national player of the year.
