April 20, 2005
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Team awards for the 2004 men’s soccer season were announced this past weekend as USC capped its spring season with the annual alumni game on Saturday at Stone Stadium. Josh Alcala and Brad Guzan shared the John M. Johnson Jr. Memorial Award, which goes to the team’s Most Valuable Player. Sebastian Lindholm is the winner of the first annual Brian Winstead Memorial Award, presented to the team’s Most Valuable Offensive Player.
The John M. Johnson Jr. Memorial Award was established in 1982 to recognize South Carolina’s Most Valuable Player during the season. The award is voted upon each season by the players and coaches. It is given in the memory of John Johnson, an avid USC soccer fan and lifelong supporter of the Gamecock soccer team and the entire University of South Carolina athletic program.
Alcala was one of only four Gamecock players to start all 20 matches in 2004. The junior ranked fifth on the team with 11 points on three goals and five assists and was named to the All-Tournament team at the adidas/Gamecock Classic. On Oct. 3, Alcala led a furious USC against Gardner-Webb as he scored the game-tying goal at the 87:47 mark and then knocked home the game-winner 1:10 later at 88:57. He was selected to the both the Soccer America and College Soccer News National teams of the Week for his performance that week.
Guzan became the third Gamecock player to win the John M. Johnson Award twice in his career, joining Henry Ring (1999-2000) and Tommy Loeber (1989-1990). He registered a 1.34 goals-against average and posted five shutouts in 2004, in addition to collecting 104 saves during the campaign, the third-most ever in a season by a Gamecock goalkeeper. Following the season, Guzan elected to turn pro and became the highest goalkeeper ever chosen in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft in January. Guzan capped his USC career as a National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-American. He was also a semifinalist for the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy, which honors college soccer’s national player of the year and earned All-South Region honors.
The Brian Winstead Memorial Award was established to honor the memory of Carolina soccer great Brian Winstead, who was killed in a private plane crash in December 2004. A pioneer for Gamecock soccer, Winstead was the first player to sign a scholarship agreement with USC in the men’s soccer program’s inaugural season in 1978. He went on to lead the Gamecocks in scoring in both of his seasons in Columbia, and in 1978, he became the first South Carolina player ever to earn All-South Region honors. He also served as a team captain in 1979. Winstead’s name remains etched in the South Carolina record books to this day. In just two seasons, he scored 80 points, which ranks eighth for points in a career..
Lindholm led the Gamecocks in scoring this past season, totaling 16 points on a team-high six goals and four assists. His 16 points rank tied for 10th all-time on USC’s freshman scoring list. Lindholm played in 19 matches and started 17 times during his rookie campaign.
