Aug. 10, 2011

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The 15th-ranked Gamecock men’s soccer team kicked off preseason training for the 2011 season on Wednesday with a two-hour session at the practice fields on campus in Columbia. The squad went through various drills, including small-sided games, goalkeeper drills and a scrimmage in the near 90-degrees temperatures.

Click HERE for a photo gallery from South Carolina’s first practice.

South Carolina is led by head coach Mark Berson in his 34th season at the helm of the Carolina program, while he is assisted by Bert Molinary in his eighth season in Columbia, and Mike Babst in his fifth. Berson and Molinary worked with the field players, while Babst trained the South Carolina goalkeepers during Wednesday morning’s session.

“It was a great practice,” Berson said when asked about the team’s first session on Wednesday. “I’m very pleased with the fitness that the guys reported back in. They have been working hard. I’m really proud of the leadership that our guys have shown during the offseason and the hard work that they have put in to get themselves ready to come in for preseason practice.”

Nine new players join the 2011 squad, including goalkeeper Robert Beebe, forward John Davidson, midfielder Ryan Freiburger, defender Mahamoudou Kaba, midfielder Niklas Kivinen, forward Asa Kryst and midfielders Emmett Lunceford, Dan Traxler and Braeden Troyer.

The group of newcomers joins returning members from the 2010 C-USA Championship squad, including seniors Stephen Morrissey and Danny Cates, and C-USA All-Freshman Team members Bradlee Baladez and Chipper Root.

South Carolina returns to the practice fields this evening, and continues preseason camp through the middle of next week prior to the start of classes. Continue to visit GamecocksOnline.com for updates, photos and videos on Gamecock men’s soccer.