Sept. 2, 2010
| Coach Berson |
| Jimmy Maurer |
GAME INFORMATION
South Carolina vs. Clemson
2010 season opener
Date: Friday, September 3, 2010
Kickoff: 8 p.m.
Location: Columbia, S.C.
Stadium: Stone Stadium (5,700)
Series: Clemson leads, 22-14-1
Television: FOX Soccer Channel
Talent: Dean Linke (p-b-p), Keith Tabatznik (analyst)
Live Stats: GamecocksOnline.com
Tickets: 1-800-4SC-FANS
Carolina Quick Hits
– South Carolina is in its 33rd year of varsity soccer.
– Head coach Mark Berson is the only head men’s soccer coach in school history. He enters the 2010 campaign with a 417-168-56 all-time record at the school and a 428-173-56 career record (spent one season at The Citadel prior to appointment at South Carolina).
– Berson ranks second among active coaches in victories (428) and eighth among the winningest coaches all-time in Division I history.
– Berson is assisted by Bert Molinary, in his seventh season at South Carolina, and Mike Babst, in his fourth.
– South Carolina returns a veteran group in 2010, including a seven-member senior class (Sam Arthur, Blake Brettschneider, Mike Lindsay, Will Traynor, Evan O’Dell, Jimmy Maurer and Mark Wiltse).
– The Gamecocks welcome 14 newcomers to the squad this fall, including a group of 12 freshmen and two transfer student-athletes.
– One of those freshmen, Chapel Hill, N.C., native Chipper Root was named one of CollegeSoccerNews.com’s 100 Freshman To Keep An Eye On for 2010. Root scored the game winner in South Carolina’s 2-1 come-from-behind victory over College of Charleston in exhibition play last Saturday at Stone Stadium.
– Injured forward Sam Arthur was named to the Preseason All-Conference USA team. Arthur suffered a foot fracture in late July. After undergoing a successful surgery, he is expected to return to the field by mid-September.
– Senior forward Blake Brettschneider returns as the team’s top offensive threat for the Clemson contest without Arthur in the lineup. Brettschneider has scored 12 career goals and collected seven assists. The Lilburn, Ga., native scored the game winner in double overtime vs. Clemson during his freshman season.
– A pair of freshmen scored both goals in South Carolina’s 2-1 exhibition win over College of Charleston. Rookie Bradlee Baladez scored the game’s equalizer in the 54th minute, followed just four minutes later with the game winner from Root. Brettschneider, Wiltse and sophomore defender Eric Martinez each collected an assist in the contest, Martinez on the game winner.
– Did you know? South Carolina has won three straight matches against its archrival Clemson. The Tigers have failed to score a single goal in the stretch.
– Senior goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer enters his senior season with 19 career shutouts, just one-half shutout away from claiming fifth place in Gamecock history in that category.
Gamecocks In Season Openers
South Carolina owns a 27-4-1 all-time record in season openers, including a streak of victories in three consecutive season openers dating back to the 2007 campaign.
Preseason Accolades
Senior forward Sam Arthur was named to the 2010 Preseason All-Conference USA squad. He was also named to the team prior to the 2009 campaign. Arthur led South Carolina with eight goals and two assists in 2009, while also pacing the squad with 45 shots, including 22 shots on goal.
Clemson Series
Clemson owns a 22-14-1 upperhand in the all-time series with South Carolina, however the Gamecocks have won three straight in the series. Prior to the current streak, South Carolina had defeated Clemson more than two consecutive times just once, a stretch that ran from 1992-95.
Up Next For The Gamecocks
Following tonight’s season opener against Clemson, South Carolina will travel to Providence, R.I., to participate in the Brown Soccer Classic. South Carolina will face tournament host Brown, and fellow Ivy League competitor Yale at the event.
Challenging Schedule Awaits Gamecocks In 2010
Matches against seven teams that participated in the 2009 NCAA Tournament, including two that advanced to the College Cup and five that were ranked in the final NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America) Top 25 Poll, highlight the 2010 season of South Carolina men’s soccer. From the final NSCAA Top 25 Poll, Carolina will host No. 24 Connecticut in the final contest of the annual Gamecock Classic event in mid-September. The Gamecocks will travel to No. 3 Wake Forest for a mid-season non-conference matchup in late September, before facing No. 7 Tulsa in Conference USA action on Oct.12 on the road. South Carolina will host No. 23 NC State and travel to No. 4 North Carolina on consecutive Tuesdays in mid-October.
Season tickets for men’s soccer, which includes admission to all home games, are currently on sale in the Gamecock Ticket Office. Fans can purchase tickets online at GamecocksOnline.com, or by calling 1-800-4SC-FANS. Cost for season tickets for men’s soccer is $25 for adults and $10 for youth (17 and under).
