Oct. 18, 2010

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The 20th-ranked Gamecock men’s soccer team (7-3-2) takes a break from Conference USA action to travel to No. 3 North Carolina (9-2-1) for a mid-week matchup on Tuesday in Chapel Hill.

South Carolina has lost just once in its last seven contests, and enters Tuesday’s match having won two of its last three games. Freshman midfielder Bradlee Baladez who was named the C-USA Offensive Player of the Week on Monday, leads the Gamecocks with five goals on the season, four of those game winners. Senior forward Blake Brettschneider paces the squad with five assists, 13 points (four goals, five assists), 38 shots and 19 shots on goal.

Senior goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer, who was named the C-USA Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, leads the league with six shutouts on the year. The veteran netminder has logged 1120 minutes in goal this season and owns a 1.04 goals against average entering Tuesday’s contest in Chapel Hill.

The Tar Heels enter Tuesday’s contest having won four of their last five contests, most recently collecting a 1-1 tie on the road at Boston College. Leading is Enzo Martinez who has netted a team-high five goals on the year to go along with two assists. The Tar Heel defense has allowed the second-fewest goals in the ACC, with only 10 getting past goalkeeper Scott Goodwin. The sophomore keeper has allowed just two goals during the five-match unbeaten streak the Tar Heels currently hold.

Live stats for the match will be available via GamecocksOnline.com.