Oct. 26, 2007

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina entertains Marshall on Saturday in Conference USA play at Stone Stadium. Game time is set for 5 p.m. for the league contest. South Carolina enters the match with an overall record of 8-5-1, with a 2-2-1 mark in Conference USA play. The Thundering Herd owns an 8-6-1 record for the year, including a 2-3-0 C-USA tally. The teams are ranked fifth and sixth, respectively, in the current C-USA standings. Special promotions for the match include: all youth under 18 wearing their team jersey will be charged just $1 for admission, all Carolina alumni will be admitted for $3 (with membership card) and the first 250 fans will receive Carolina koozies.

THE NATIONAL RANKS
In the most recent national polls (Oct. 22-23), the Gamecocks are not ranked, but received votes in the NSCAA Coaches Poll, the CollegeSoccerNews.com and SoccerTimes.com polls.

SCOUTING THE GAMECOCKS
Carolina enters Saturday’s match against the Thundering Herd with an 8-5-1 overall record, including a 2-2-1 mark in league action. USC most recently lost to No. 2 SMU (Oct.24) 2-1, and tied No. 25 Memphis (Oct. 20), 1-1. Freshman forward Blake Brettschneider and sophomore midfielder Jeff Scannella have paced the Gamecock offense in recent weeks. Scannella scored in three consecutive contests, beginning with a game-winning tally at UAB (Sept. 29), followed by another game winner at Davidson (Oct. 3) and an insurance goal at FIU (Oct. 7). He also contributed the lone Gamecock goal against SMU on Wednesday. Brettschneider has four goals and four assists for the year, most recently providing the lone goal in USC’s 1-1 tie against Memphis. In the net, freshman goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer owns a 0.99 goals against average -tied for tops in C-USA- while his four shutouts and 57 saves rank tied for first and second, respectively. Additionally, Carolina head coach Mark Berson looks for his 400th win at the helm of the Gamecock program. He earned his 400th overall career win last season, but looks to make another stamp in his Carolina career record book on Saturday.

SCOUTING MARSHALL
Marshall most recently suffered a 3-1 setback to Kentucky in C-USA play on Wednesday. The Thundering Herd is currently in sixth place in the league, sitting one spot behind the Gamecocks. Senior midfielder John Daniele scored his fourth goal of the season against KU, while goalkeeper Craig Ratanamorn collected two saves in the loss. Marshall head coach Bob Gray is in his 31st season as a head coach, including his 13th at the helm of the Marshall program.

400 Wins, Take TWO
South Carolina head coach Mark Berson is one of the longest tenured men’s collegiate head coaches in the nation. He is one of just five active, and 11 Division I coaches all-time to reach the 400 victory milestone for his career. Berson stands on the edge of another career milestone with 399 career wins at the helm of the Gamecock men’s soccer program.