Oct. 5, 2010
| Coach Berson |
No. 20 South Carolina, who enters the NSCAA Top 25 for the first time in 2010, travels to face No. 8 SMU in Conference USA Action on Wednesday from Dallas, Texas.
GAME INFORMATION
Date: Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Dallas, Texas
Stadium: Westcott Field
Series: Series is tied at 5-5-2
SMU leads 1-0-2 in Dallas
Live Stats: GamecocksOnline.com
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 weekend action with a 422-170-57 all-time record at the school and a 433-175-57 career record (spent one season at The Citadel prior to appointment at South Carolina).
– Entering the 2010 campaign, Berson ranked 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.
– For the first time this season, South Carolina is ranked in the NSCAA Top 25 Poll at No. 20.
– South Carolina travels to face two top-10 opponents in No. 8 SMU and No. 5 Tulsa this week.
– South Carolina enters Wednesday’s game on a three-game win streak, including a two-game road winning streak after defeating Charlotte (Sept. 25, 1-0) and Wake Forest (Sept. 28, 1-0) on the road.
– The Gamecocks rank second in the NSCAA South Region poll this week, trailing only North Carolina.
– South Carolina’s three goals vs. UAB was its highest scoring output of the season, and highest goal total in a single game since scoring three goals in a 3-2 double overtime win over SMU on Oct. 14, 2009.
– Freshman midfielder Bradlee Baladez was named the College Soccer News National Player of the Week and the Conference USA Co-Offensive Player of the Week on Monday for his play last week vs. Wake Forest and UAB. Baladez scored the game-winning goal vs. both Wake Forest and UAB.
– Carolina has been a member of C-USA since the 2005 season. In that time, the Gamecocks are 6-0 in conference openers after earning a 3-2 win over UAB on Saturday.
– Senior forward Blake Brettschneider ranks first in C-USA with 4.00 shots per game.
– Senior goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer ranks second in C-USA with 0.50 shutouts per game, while he ranks third in goals against average (1.09).
– Two South Carolina freshmen hail from the Lonestar state in Bradlee Baladez and Trevor Hubbard.
SMU Series
The series between SMU and South Carolina is tied at 5-5-2, however, the Gamecocks have won the previous two contests, including a 3-2 double overtime win vs. the Mustangs last season in Columbia, and a 3-0 win at SMU in the Conference USA Tournament in 2008.
Scouting SMU
SMU enters Wednesday’s contest after losing its first match of the season at UCF, 2-1, on Saturday. The Mustangs are now 9-1 on the year, including a 1-1 mark in C-USA action, having defeated UAB in their league opener. Juan Castillo leads the squad with seven goals and two assists for 16 points on the year, while Josue Soto has collected a team-best six assists. Veteran goalkeeper Craig Hill has played every minute in net this season for the Mustangs. He has collected 26 saves and enters Wednesday’s match with a 1.07 goals against average.
Scoring Frenzy Leads Gamecocks Past UAB In C-USA Opener
South Carolina scored three goals in the final 22 minutes of play vs. UAB to collect a 3-2 come-from-behind win over the Blazers. Senior forward Blake Brettschneider, senior defender Will Traynor and freshman midfielder Bradlee Baladez each tallied a goal for Carolina, with Baladez collecting the game winner. The Gamecocks held a 16-10 advantage in shots in the match. Carolina goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer collected four saves in net in the win.
Baladez Emerges As Scoring Threat For Gamecocks
Freshman midfielder Bradlee Baladez is quickly emerging as a scoring threat for the Gamecock offense. He has scored three goals this season, all game winners (Yale, Wake Forest and UAB), while he ranks third on the team with 18 shots, including seven on goal.
Maurer Climbs Record Books
South Carolina senior goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer now holds sole possession of third place in Gamecock history with 23 career shutouts, including four this season. Maurer ranks second in C-USA with 0.50 shutouts per contest thus far in 2010.
