Nov. 12, 2009

IRVING, Texas – Four South Carolina men’s soccer players garnered All-Conference USA honors, as announced by the league office on Thursday. Junior striker Sam Arthur and senior defender Tyler Ruthven were named to the All-Conference USA First Team, while junior forward Blake Brettschneider and junior goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer were selected to the third team.

Arthur’s selection to the squad marks his second-consecutive year on the first-team, while Ruthven’s selection to the top 11 marks his first appointment to the squad. Arthur led Carolina with eight goals on the year, including three game-winners, while adding a pair of assists. Ruthven, the anchor of the Gamecocks’ defense at the center back position, collected one goal and one assist on the year.

Brettschneider has been selected to an all-conference squad every year during his time at Carolina. His two goals and one assist for a total of five points ranked just behind Arthur in the team standings. He also tallied one game-winning goal on the season. Maurer has also been selected to an all-conference squad each of his three seasons at Carolina. He finished the 2009 campaign with a 1.22 goals against average and five shutouts on the year.

Tulsa placed a league-best six players on the all-conference teams, including three on the first team. Ashley McInnes was named the 2009 Most Valuable Player, while teammate, Justin Chavez was named Defensive Player of the Year. UAB senior forward Two-Boys Gumede was named the C-USA Offensive Player of the Year, while Marshall goalkeeper Daniel Withrow was voted the 2009 C-USA Freshman of the Year. Marshall head coach Bob Gray was named the C-USA Coach of the Year after leading the Thundering Herd to a No. 2 seed in the C-USA Championship.