Oct. 24, 2008

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina men’s soccer team travels to face Marshall in Conference USA action on Saturday from Sam Hood Field in Huntington, W.Va. The Gamecocks enter weekend play looking to snap a three-game winless streak. Carolina holds a 6-5-2 overall record, including a 1-2-1 mark in league play, while the Thundering Herd ride a two-game winning streak, holding a 2-10-1 overall mark, including a 2-3-0 C-USA tally. Marshall holds a 2-1 upperhand in the all-time series with the Gamecocks, which dates back to the 2005 season.

QUICK TAKES
• South Carolina looks to snap a three-game winless streak, having tied SMU on Oct. 8, lost to Kentucky on Oct. 12 and lost to Memphis on Oct. 17.
• Sophomore sensation Sam Arthur has a team-best 10 goals in 13 contests this year. He has also contributed three assists for a total of 23 points.
• Goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer has led Carolina to six shutouts this season, a career best for the sophomore netminder.

LAST TIME OUT
The Gamecock men’s soccer team suffered a 2-0 setback to Memphis on Oct. 17 in Conference USA action at Stone Stadium. Memphis’ score just three minutes into the match by Michael Coburn on a free kick outside of the Gamecock 18-yard box proved the game winner for the Tigers. The loss marked back-to-back 2-0 defeats for the Gamecocks, while it was the first time this season South Carolina trailed at halftime was held scoreless in consecutive matches. The outcome also marks the first-ever Gamecock loss to Memphis in the all-time series between the two schools.

SCOUTING THE THUNDERING HERD
After beginning its season with a 0-10-1 record, Marshall snapped the streak with a 3-2 victory over Florida International on Oct. 15 and followed with an impressive 1-0 upset of No. 24 SMU on Oct. 19. Junior Michael Bolt picked up the game winner against FIU, while senior Kolby LaCrone secured the victory against SMU. Senior goalkeeper Greg Walter collected 10 saves combined in the two victories for the Herd.

CONFERENCE WOES
After a solid 5-3-1 non-conference record to begin the season, South Carolina has struggled to find offense, and as a result victories, during its first four games of the Conference USA portion of its schedule. After a 2-0 victory over FIU in its league opener on Oct. 4, Carolina has scored just one goal in three games since, while failing to score against both Kentucky and Memphis.