Oct. 16, 2009
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina men’s soccer team (7-3-2, 2-0-1) will entertain Conference USA opponent Kentucky (8-5-0, 1-3-0) on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Stone Stadium. South Carolina has won three of its last four contests entering Saturday’s match.
GAME INFORMATION
South Carolina vs. Kentucky
Date: October 17, 2009
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Location: Columbia, S.C.
Stadium: Stone Stadium
Series: South Carolina leads, 4-2-1
South Carolina leads, 3-0-0 in games played in Columbia
Series Information
South Carolina owns a 4-2-1 upperhand in the all-time series versus Kentucky, including a 3-0-0 mark in games played at Stone Stadium. Kentucky won the last meeting between the two schools 2-0 in Lexington during the 2008 season.
Scouting Kentucky
Kentucky enters Saturday’s match with an 8-5-0 overall record, including a 1-3-0 mark in Conference USA games. The Wildcats most recently dropped a 1-0 decision to No. 7 Louisville on Wednesday. Matt Lodge paces the Wildcat offense with five goals and one assist on the year, while Tyler Burns has added two goals. Veteran goalkeeper Dan Williams owns a 0.91 goals against average, having allowed 12 goals on the season.
Scannella’s Goal Gives Gamecocks Double OT Win Over SMU
The University of South Carolina men’s soccer team battled into double overtime for its second-consecutive contest, defeating Conference USA foe SMU, 3-2, in the 103rd minute on a direct free kick by senior midfielder Jeff Scannella on Wednesday night at Stone Stadium. The win improved South Carolina’s overall record to 7-3-2, including a 2-0-1 mark in C-USA action, while SMU fell to 5-6-1, 1-2-1 in league play. Junior striker Sam Arthur and junior defender Will Traynor also scored a goal for Carolina, while junior goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer tallied one save in the victory. Scannella’s goal was his first game-winner of the season and the seventh game-winning goal of his celebrated Gamecock career.
Conference USA Breakdown
UAB currently sits atop the Conference USA men’s soccer standings with a 3-0-1 mark (10 points) in league play. Marshall is currently second with a 3-0-0 record (9 points), follwed by South Carolina (2-0-1, 7 points) and Tulsa (2-0-1, 7 points). The top four teams advance to the C-USA Tournament, hosted by the regular-season winner, in November.
Arthur Named To TopDrawerSoccer.com Team Of The Week
South Carolina junior forward Sam Arthur was named to the TopDrawerSoccer.com Team of the Week on Monday. Arthur tallied two goals and earned an assist on Blake Brettschneider’s game-winning tally last Wednesday in a 3-2 victory over intrastate rival Furman in non-conference acton. Arthur leads the Gamecocks with eight goals and two assists on the year for a total of 18 points.
Gamecocks And Tulsa Battle To 1-1 Draw
South Carolina and Tulsa met on the pitch on Oct. 11 and played through 110 minutes to end in a 1-1 tie in the C-USA matchup. Carolina scored on a penalty kick by senior forward Bryan Lowder in the 76th minute, but Tulsa continued to battle, scoring the tying goal in the 90th minute to push the contest into overtime.
Maurer Climbing Career Record Book
Gamecock goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer is just 1.5 shutouts away from ranking in the top five in South Carolina history for shutouts in a career. Maurer enters Saturday’s contest versus Kentucky ranked fifth in C-USA with a 1.03 goals against average for the year.
Up Next For South Carolina
The Gamecocks step out of C-USA play when they host Wake Forest on Tuesday. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Stone Stadium.
