Sept. 5, 2011
The Gamecock men’s soccer team (0-2-0) is set to host Charlotte (2-0-0) in the 2011 home opener on Tuesday at Stone Stadium. Game time for the non-conference match is set for 7 p.m.
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).
GAME INFORMATION
Date: Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Kick Off: 7 p.m. ET
Location: Columbia, S.C.
Stadium: Stone Stadium
Series: South Carolina leads 13-4-3
Live Stats: GamecocksOnline.com
Free Live Video: GamecocksOnline.com
Game Updates: South Carolina men’s soccer Facebook and Twitter (@GamecockMSoccer)
Carolina Quick Hits
– South Carolina is in its 34th season of varsity soccer in 2011.
– Berson, in his 35th season overall coaching (spent one season as the head coach at The Citadel), entered the 2011 season ranked as the winningest active coach in Division I men’s soccer with 441 career wins.
– South Carolina holds one of the youngest rosters in its recent history, with nine upperclassmen, compared to 19 combined freshmen and sophomores.
– South Carolina is the reigning Conference USA Tournament Champion after winning the event last November. The Gamecocks defeated Tulsa, 1-0, in double-overtime on a penalty kick by Stephen Morrissey.
– Carolina advanced to the Round of 16 in last year’s NCAA Tournament. Carolina earned the No. 7 national seed and a first-round bye. In its first match of the tournament, South Carolina earned a 1-0 overtime win over Duke when then-freshman Bradlee Baladez scored a goal in the 100th minute for the Gamecock win.
– The Gamecocks look for their first win of the 2011 season on Tuesday vs. Charlotte. Carolina suffered a 3-2 loss at College of Charleston in the season opener on Aug. 28, and lost 2-0 at Clemson last Friday despite holding a 14-4 advantage in shots vs. the Tigers.
– Freshman midfielder Braeden Troyer led Carolina with four shots vs. Clemson. The Columbia, S.C., native now has six shots on the young season, which ties sophomore striker Bradlee Baladez for the team lead entering Tuesday’s matchup vs. Charlotte.
Scouting Charlotte
– Charlotte was picked to be the 2011 A-10 Champs last month in the league’s preseason poll. Seniors Isaac Cowles, Evan James and Charles Rodriguez, junior Donnie Smith and sophomore Tyler Gibson were voted preseason All-Atlantic 10. Freshman forward Guiseppe Gentile was selected to the preseason Atlantic 10 All-Rookie team. Last season, the 49ers captured the program’s first Atlantic 10 regular-season title after posting an 8-1 mark in league play.
The squad enters Tuesday’s matchup vs. the Gamecocks with a 2-0-0 record after a 2-1 victory over Coastal Carolina in the 2011 season opener, and most recently a 2-0 win over UNC-Wilmington on Sunday. James paces the team with two goals, both vs. Coastal Carolina, on the year. Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Klay Davis has played every minute in net for the 49ers thus far, owning a 0.50 goals against average, while collecting six saves.
Charlotte Series
– South Carolina holds a 13-4-3 upperhand in the all-time series vs. the 49ers, including a 5-4-2 advantage in games played at Stone Stadium. Entering Tuesday’s contest Carolina has won three-straight in the series, including a 1-0 win at Charlotte last season behind the game-winning goal by senior forward Blake Brettschneider.
Up Next For The Gamecocks
– South Carolina travels to the Dartmouth Classic later this week, set to face host Dartmouth and Bradley in tournament action. Both of Carolina’s opponents at the event are mentioned in the most recent NSCAA Top 25 poll, as Dartmouth is ranked No. 22, and Bradley is just outside of the top 25, but receiving votes in the poll. South Carolina will face Dartmouth in its first contest of the event on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
