Oct. 15, 2010

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The 20th-ranked Gamecock men’s soccer team (7-3-1, 2-1-0 C-USA) is set to host UCF (8-2-1, 4-0-1 C-USA), who is currently unbeaten in Conference USA action, on Saturday night at Stone Stadium at 7 p.m.

Date: Saturday, October 16, 2010
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Location: Columbia, S.C.
Stadium: Stone Stadium (5,700)
Series: South Carolina leads, 5-0-3
Live Stats/Free Live Video: GamecocksOnline.com

South Carolina enters Saturday’s match having won five of its last six contests, including its most recent win, a 1-0 victory in non-conference action over NC State on Tuesday. Freshman midfielder Bradlee Baladez, who is tied for the Conference USA lead with four game-winning goals, collected the game winner over NC State. He was assisted on the tally by senior forward Blake Brettschneider, who posted his team-leading fourth assist of the season. The South Carolina defensive line, along with goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer collected its sixth shutout of the season, which is also a C-USA best.

With its 7-3-1 beginning to the season, South Carolina is off to its best start since the 2007 campaign, when the Gamecocks opened the season with an 8-3-0 mark through the first 11 contests.

Baladez, Brettschneider and senior defender Will Traynor currently lead the team with four goals each. Junior midfielder Danny Cates is the only other Gamecock to have scored a goal this season, as he scored in South Carolina’s 2-2 double overtime tie against Iona.

UCF is unbeaten in league action entering Saturday’s match. The Knights have defeated Marshall, SMU, FIU and Memphis in conference play, while most recently earning a 1-1, double overtime tie with Kentucky. Sophomore midfielder Nik Robson leads UCF with seven goals and seven assists on the season, while junior forward Cameron Cooksey has contributed four goals. Netminder Shawn Doyle owns a league best 0.62 goals against average entering the match versus the Gamecocks.

Live stats and free live video will be available via GamecocksOnline.com for the match.