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Sept. 26, 2007

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of South Carolina 2007 men’s soccer recruiting class has been ranked No. 10 by College Soccer News. The ’07 class features 11 signees, including nine freshmen and two transfer student-athletes. Among the class, four players have participated in the United States Youth National team pool and seven are current or former Region team players. Also included are three high school All-Americans, two adidas Elite Soccer Program participants and one state player of the year.

Two members of the ’07 class were among the Top 100 Freshman To Keep An Eye On In 2007 by College Soccer News. Forward Sam Arthur and goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer were each named on the list. Additionally, Arthur was named one of the nation’s top 10 soccer recruits by RISE Magazine during the summer of 2007.

Below is a complete list of the 2007 recruiting class:
Sam Arthur • 6-0 • 185 • Forward • Roswell, Ga. (Greater Atlanta Christian School)
Vance Benson • 5-10 • 150 • Midfielder • Rock Hill, S.C. (Northwestern High School)
Blake Brettschneider • 6-0 • 175 • Forward • Lilburn, Ga. (Parkview High School)
Sam Kleckley • 5-10 • 160 • Defender • Greenville, S.C. (Greenville Senior High Academy)
Mike Lindsay • 6-0 • 175 • Forward • Starkville, Miss. (Starkville High School)
Bryan Lowder • 6-1 • 180 • Forward • Brentwood, Tenn. (Louisville/Brentwood High School)
Jimmy Maurer • 6-3 • 185 • Goalkeeper • Lawrenceville, Ga. (St. Pius X Catholic High School)
Evan O’Dell • 6-2 • 190 • Defender • Duluth, Ga. (Peachtree Ridge High School)
Tyler Ruthven • 6-2 • 185 • Defender • Alpharetta, Ga. (San Francisco)
Josh Stewart • 6-0 • 180 • Midfielder • Vestavia, Ala. (Vestavia Hills High School)
Will Traynor • 6-2 • 160 • Midfielder • St. Charles, Mo. (Francis Howell North High School)

Below is information on each signee:

Sam Arthur – Forward >> 6-0 >> 185 – Roswell, Ga. (Greater Atlanta Christian School)
Currently a member of the United States National team Under-18 player pool, Region III Olympic Development Team and the Georgia State Team 2002-05 … Named one of the nation’s top 10 soccer recruits by RISE Magazine … Garnered National Soccer Coaches Association of America adidas All-America honors in 2006 … Invited to the adidas Elite Soccer Program in 2006… Holds the Greater Atlanta Christian School record for most goals in a season and career … Helped his team to regional titles, 2004-2006, and an appearance in the state finals in 2006 … Named Gwinett County Super Six … Named first-team all-County in 2005 and 2006 … Earned All-South honors in 2006 … Played club soccer for the Atlanta Fire United and coach Massoud Roushandel … Club team won the Georgia state and Region III titles in 2006 and made the Region III finals in 2005 … Led the Region III Premier League East in goals and overall points in both 2005 and 2006 … Was also the league’s assist leader in 2006 … Involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in high school

Blake Brettschneider – Forward >> 6-0 >> 175 – Lilburn, Ga. (Parkview High School)
Named the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Player of the Year in 2007 … Attended Parkview High School where he played soccer for coach Mike Tolmich … Helped Parkview to the 2005 State Championship … Scored 41 goals to go with 31 assists during his prep career … Chosen Gwinnett County Super Six and All-Gwinnett County … Recognized by RISE Magazine as an All-Area performer for soccer … Served as a varsity soccer captain as a junior and senior … Also played football in high school, serving as the team’s kicker and punter … Football squad reached the state finals in 2005 … Was a six-time Special Teams Player of the Week … Currently a member of the Georgia and the Region III Olympic Development Program teams …Played club soccer for the Atlanta Fire United and coach Massoud Roushandel.

Vance Benson – Midfielder >> 5-10 >> 150 – Rock Hill, S.C. (Northwestern)
A four-year letterwinner for coach Dom Wren at Northwestern H.S. … Earned all-state honors in 2007 after helping Northwestern to the 4A State Finals … Named team Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors in 2006 and served as a team captain in 2007 … Competed in the North Carolina-South Carolina All-Star game in 2007 … Named Most Valuable Player in the Lake Murray Challenge … Helped Northwestern to the 2006 State Championship, a final four appearance in 2005 and runner-up finishes in 2004 and 2007 … Named the MVP Award at the 2006 Palmetto Cup as his team captured the title … Member of the Lake Murray All-Tournament team in 2006 … Played club soccer for CESA ’87 Premier and coach Keith Parkinson … Played on the South Carolina Olympic Development program team 2003-2006 … Participates in Young Life and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Sam Kleckley – Defender >> 5-10 >> 160 – Greenville, S.C. (Greenville Senior High Academy)
Played for coach Ed Joyce at Greenville Senior High Academy … Won the Coaches’ Award for his team in 2006 … Earned All-State honors in 2006 … Also selected all-conference and all-region … Helped team to the Class 3A State Championship in 2004 under coach Warren Turner … Played club soccer for CESA Premier and coach Pearse Tormey, winning state championships in 2003 and 2004 … Reached the Southern Region finals in 2004 … Made the finals of the State Challenge Cup in both 2005 and 2006 … Involved in Beta Club and church activities.

Mike Lindsay – Forward >> 6-0 >> 175 – Starkville, Miss. (Starkville High School)
Currently a member of the U.S. Under-18 National team pool … Selected to the Region III team in 2005 … A state team forward for the Mississippi Olympic Development Program … Played for coach Brian Bennett at Starkville High School … Won the Golden Boot Award by scoring the most goals in eighth through 12th grades … Named the Most Outstanding Offensive Player as a sophomore … Selected the co-MVP of the team as a junior … Team advanced to the state playoffs each season … Competed in club soccer for the Tupelo Futbol Club and coach Nathan Hall, winning three state championships, two Premier League Championships and advancing to regionals twice … Also participated in track , baseball and football at the prep level … An honor roll student who is a member of the National Honor Society … Named Most Outstanding Sophomore by the Starkville faculty.

Bryan Lowder – Forward >> 6-1 >> 180 – Brentwood, Tenn. (Louisville)
Transferred to South Carolina from the University of Louisville, where he was a member of the Cardinals soccer team in the fall of 2006 … Garnered National Soccer Coaches Association of America adidas High School All-America honors in 2006 … Named the 2006 Gatorade Tennessee Soccer Player of the Year … Also, named The Tennessean’s Midstate Soccer Player of the Year … A member of the Region III Olympic Development Program and Tennessee state teams … Played four years for Brentwood High School, leading the team in scoring each season … Named the District Player of the Year his senior season … Earned all-state, all-midstate, all-region and all-district honors his sophomore, junior and senior seasons … Named District Offensive Player of the Year and County Player of the year his junior season, as well as County Player of the Year his sophomore season … Helped lead his team to a state championship in 2005 and a state quarterfinal appearance his senior season … Finished his high school career as Brentwood High School’s all-time leading scorer and assist leader with 125 career goals and 69 career assists … Played club soccer for the Tennessee Futbol Club.

Jimmy Maurer – Goalkeeper >> 6-3 >> 185 – Lawrenceville, Ga. (St. Pius X Catholic High School)
Gatorade State Player of the Year in Georgia in 2006-07… Member of the United States U-17 National Team pool from 2004-2006 … Played on the Region III Olympic Development Program (ODP) team from 2003-2006 and the Georgia state team for the past six years …Listed among Georgia’s Best of the Best in 2007 as both a goalkeeper and a forward … Named to the 1988 (age group) US Youth Soccer All-American team in 2006 … Member of the Super Y National Elite Team in 2004, 2005 and 2006 … Participated in the adidas Elite Soccer Program in 2005 and 2006, playing goalkeeper on the ’05 championship team … Attended St. Pius X Catholic High School in Atlanta where he played soccer for coach Killebrew Bailey … Garnered Player of the Year honors in 2004 and Team Most Valuable Player honors in 2005 … Led St. Piux X to the state semifinals twice and the quarterfinals once … Named all-county and NSCAA all-region as a forward … Competed in club soccer for coach Massoud Roushandel and the Atlanta Fire United … Served as a team captain and helped the squad to state championships four of five seasons … Team was ranked as high as No. 7 nationally … Also played basketball for three years in high school … Awarded the Mary Callahan Academic and Athletic Scholarship … Elected to the National Congressional Student Leadership Conference in 2005 and 2006 … Has volunteered for a number of community organizations.

Evan O’Dell – Defender >> 6-2 >> 190 – Duluth, Ga. (Peachtree Ridge High School)
Currently a member of the United States Under-18 National team pool … Selected to the Region III team iNamed one of Top Drawer Soccer’s 100 Players to Watch in 2007 … Member of the Olympic Development Program in Georgia from 2002-2006 … Played for coach Bill Holleman at Peachtree Ridge High School … Selected the team’s Most Valuable Player as a sophomore and junior … all-Gwinnett County selection … Played club soccer for the Atlanta Fire United and coach Massoud Roushandel … Helped the Fire win the 2006 State and the Region III Premier League East Division Championships … An honor roll student throughout high school … Part of the Student Leadership Program … Who’s Who Among American High School Students.

Tyler Ruthven – Defender >> 6-2 >> 185 – Alpharetta, Ga. (San Francisco)
Transfers to South Carolina from the University of San Francisco … Played in 19 matches and started 10 times as a true freshman for a 12-7-1 USF team … Recorded one assist … Began his high school career at Roswell High School before moving on to Milton High School where he was a two-time team captain … Played club soccer for the Concorde Fire Elite with fellow Gamecock sophomores Mario Burstein and Cory Lewis.

Josh Stewart – Midfielder >> 6-0 >> 180 – Vestavia, Ala. (Vestavia Hills High School)
Former member of the United States Youth National Team pool, Region III Olympic Development Program (ODP) team and Alabama state team … Played for coach Rick Grammar at Vestavia Hills High School … A 2004 and 2005 first-team All-State selection … Named Offensive Most Valuable Player of the Lakeshore Shootout … Named second-team All-Metro in 2004 and first-team All-Metro in 2005 … Played club soccer for the Vestavia Steamers and coach Luke Whittle … Helped the ’87 club to two state championships (2001 and 2004) and two runner-up finishes (2002 and 2003) … Helped ’89 team win the 2005 State Championship and finish second in 2006.

Will Traynor – Midfielder >> 6-2 >> 160 – St. Charles, Mo. (Francis Howell North High School)
Former member of the Olympic Development Program (ODP) Region II and Missouri state teams … Two-time team captain and four-year letterwinner at Francis Howell North High School and coach Vince Nowak … Collected first-team All-State honors in 2005 and 2006 … Selected all-conference twice and academic all-conference all four years … Helped team to three District titles (2003, 2004, 2006), two State Title Sectionals (2003, 2006) and a State Title Final Four (2004) … Played for the Scott Gallagher Soccer Club and coach Tom Howe … Team made the USYSA National Finals in 2006 and won the Missouri State Championship 2003-2007 …Well-rounded student who was involved in a number of high school activities … Delegate to the MSHSSA Sportsmanship Summit … Who’s Who of American High School Students.