Oct. 19, 2007
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of South Carolina men’s soccer team travels to face No. 25 Memphis in Conference USA action on Saturday. Game time is set for 8 p.m. ET at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex. Carolina, winners of four of its last five games, owns an 8-4-0 overall record, including a 2-1-0 mark in league play. Memphis, winners of two consecutive C-USA contests, is 7-2-3 for the year, with a 2-0-2 conference record. USC holds a 2-1 advantage in the all-time series between the two schools, including a 2-1, double-overtime victory over the Tigers last season at Stone Stadium.
THE NATIONAL RANKS
After its 1-0 loss to Tulsa, South Carolina is not featured in any of the national top 25 polls this week. The Gamecocks are however receiving votes in the NSCAA, CollegeSoccerNews.com and SoccerTimes.com polls.
SCOUTING MEMPHIS
The Tigers enter Saturday’s contest having won two consecutive games, both Conference USA contests. Memphis stole a 3-1 win over Kentucky on Oct. 13 and followed with a 2-1 victory over Marshall on Wednesday. The Tigers are 7-2-3 with a 2-0-2 mark in league play. Kevin Walsh leads the Tigers with five goals, while teammate Sean Goulding ranks second in the league with six assists. Netminder Tyler Strom ranks fourth in the league with a 1.09 goals against average, collecting 38 saves thus far in 2007.
HOT STREAK
South Carolina enters Saturday’s contest against Memphis having won five of its last seven matches. Prior to the 1-0 loss to Tulsa, USC’s four-game winning streak marked the longest consecutive streak for the Gamecocks since a string of nine straight during the 2006 season (Aug. 28-Sept. 27).
CONFERENCE USA ROUNDUP
SMU’s 3-0-1 C-USA record leads the league, followed by Tulsa and Memphis with identical 2-0-2 marks. The Gamecocks are just behind with a 2-1-0 mark, followed by Kentucky and FIU (2-2-0), Marshall (1-2-0), UCF (0-3-1) and UAB (0-4-0).
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Carolina continues to rank near the top of multiple statistical categories in Conference USA. Despite not having played the last three games due to injury, freshman forward Sam Arthur ranks tied for third with five goals on the year, while Jeff Scannella ranks tied for fourth with four goals. Freshman Blake Brettschneider paces the Gamecocks with 35 shots, good enough for fourth in the league. Defensively, netminder Jimmy Maurer leads C-USA with a 0.93 goals against average. His .823 save percentage and 51 saves place him second, while he ranks tied for first with four shutouts.
