UNCW Game Notes
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Sept. 20, 2005

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of South Carolina men’s soccer team (1-5) will look for its second straight win on Wednesday, Sept. 21, when No. 25 UNC-Wilmington visits Columbia and Stone Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., and the match is designated as Armed Forces Night. With a military ID, admission is free.

The match will be broadcast live worldwide on South Carolina’s official athletic web site, USCsports.com. Richard Rowell will call the action. Live statistics for will also be available via Gametracker on the site.

The UNCW match marks Carolina’s last home match until Oct. 14 when it faces Kentucky. It’s also the Gamecocks’ fourth match this season against a team ranked in this week’s NSCAA top 25 poll.

CAROLINA UPDATE
After enduring five losses to open the season, the Gamecocks captured their first win on Sunday, a 2-1 double overtime victory over Loyola-Chicago in the adidas-Gamecock Classic. South Carolina fell to Penn in the Classic on Friday night, 2-0, but rebounded for the win on Sunday.

Junior Ayo Akinsete leads USC with three points on one goal and one assist this season. Junior Mike Sambursky, who has attempted a team-high 24 shots, and senior Eric Szeszycki have each scored one goal.

Freshman goalkeeper Mike Gustavson has played all 568:19 this season. Hs has collected 29 saves and owns a 1.74 goals-against average.

South Carolina has two non-conference matches remaining before it opens play in Conference USA. After Wednesday’s match with UNC-Wilmington, the Gamecocks will travel to Charlotte on Saturday, Sept. 24, to take on the 49ers at Transamerica Field. USC kicks off league play at East Carolina on Oct. 2.

SCOUTING THE SEAHAWKS
UNC-Wilmington (5-1) is riding a four-match win streak entering Wednesday’s match after defeating East Carolina, 4-1, and UNC-Asheville, 6-3, over the weekend. The Seahawks’ biggest victory of the season came in the season opener on Sept. 1, a 3-2, double-overtime triumph at then No. 13 UNC-Greensboro.

UNC-Wilmington is ranked No. 25 nationally in the NSCAA poll and 26th, according to College Soccer News.

Sam Leger’s six goals this season make him the Seahawks’ leading points (12) and goal scorer. Keith Shevlin (3 goals, 2 assists) and Tim Masters (3 goals, 2 assists) are tied for second with eight points apiece.

A pair of goalkeepers have shared time this season for UNCW. Brad Knighton has played at total of 438:48 in five games and owns a 1.44 goals-against average. Mike Shaughness has seen action between the pipes in two matches, logging 135 minutes. He has a 3.33 goals-against average.

Aidan Heaney is in his fourth season as the head coach at UNCW.

USC-UNCW SERIES HISTORY
South Carolina is 5-1-1 all-time against UNC-Wilmington, including last season’s 3-1 victory in Wilmington. In Columbia, the Gamecocks have a 3-0-0 record.

In 2004, USC jumped to a 3-0 lead on goals by Sebastian Lindholm, Greg Reece and Eric Szeszycki.