May 25, 2007

COLUMBIA, S.C. – University of South Carolina men’s soccer coach Mark Berson has announced his team’s 2007 season schedule. During the program’s 30th season, the Gamecocks will play nine home matches at Eugene E. Stone III Stadium, highlighted by an Oct. 24 meeting with Conference USA rival SMU that will be featured as Fox Soccer Channel’s Gamec of the Week.

South Carolina opens the 2007 campaign on Friday, Aug. 31, at Clemson. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. The Gamecocks will play their home opener on Tuesday, Sept. 4, against Presbyterian at 7 p.m.

Carolina heads back on the road to compete inthe University of Connecticut.’s adidas Classic. The Gamecocks will face the host Huskies on Friday, Sept. 7, and then take on South Florida Saturday, Sept. 8, at 4 p.m. in the Conference USA-BIG EAST affair. Florida International is the fourth squad competing in the event.

The team returns to Columbia for a three-match home stand that begins on Tuesday, Sept. 11, against Wofford. South Carolina hosts its annual adidas-Gamecock Classic that weekend. The Gamecocks are set to play Longwood Sept. 14 and Lipscomb Sept. 16 while Presbyterian will return to Stone Stadium as the fourth participant.

South Carolina travels to Durham, N.C., for a Sept. 19 contest at ACC rival Duke. The Gamecocks host Alabama A&M on Sept. 23.

Next, Carolina plays three straight matches on the road beginning with its Conference USA opener at UAB on Saturday, Sept. 29. The Gamecocks play at Davidson Oct. 3 before traveling to Miami to take on Florida International on Oct. 7.

The Gamecocks open the home portion of their C-USA schedule Oct. 13 against Tulsa and then battle Memphis on the road Oct. 20.

On Oct. 24, Carolina hosts SMU Wednesday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m. with Fox Soccer Channel on hand to provide a live, national broadcast.

South Carolina takes on Marshall in Columbia on Oct. 27 before heading to Orlando to face UCF on Nov. 4. The Gamecocks are back at home Nov. 9 for their regular season finale against the Kentucky Wildcats.

The 2007 Conference USA Tournament is Nov. 14-18 in Birmingham, Ala. The NCAA Tournament begins the weekend of Nov. 23 and 24 and concludes with the NCAA College Cup Dec. 14 and 16 at SAS Soccer Stadium in Cary, N.C.

South Carolina will face at least five opponents who played in the 2006 NCAA Tournament.

Click here to view the 2007 schedule.