Sept. 15, 2011

The South Carolina men’s soccer team is set to host the annual Gamecock Classic this weekend at Stone Stadium in Columbia. South Carolina will welcome fellow Conference USA competitor Kentucky, Brown from the Ivy League and High Point from The Big South to the two-day event. South Carolina soccer alumni will also be in attendance for an alumni weekend.

Tournament Information – 2011 Gamecock Classic
Columbia, S.C. – Stone Stadium

Game Notes | Promotions | Gamecock Classic Tournament Central | Alumni Weekend Information

Live Stats: GamecocksOnline.com
Live Video: GamecocksOnline.com
Game Updates: South Carolina men’s soccer Facebook and Twitter (@GamecockMSoccer)

Game Information – Friday, Sept. 16, 2011
– Kentucky vs. High Point –
Kick Off: 5 p.m. ET

– South Carolina vs. Brown –
Kick Off: 7:30 p.m. ET

Game Information – Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011
– Kentucky vs. Brown –
Kick off: 11 a.m.

– South Carolina vs. High Point –
Kick Off: 1 p.m. ET

Carolina Quick Hits
– South Carolina is in its 34th season of varsity soccer in 2011.
– The Gamecocks are led by head coach Mark Berson in his 34th season at the helm of the program. He is assisted by Bert Molinary in his eighth season and Mike Babst in his fifth.
– 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 has played four of its first five games of the season on the road, including most recently at the Dartmouth Classic.
– Did you know that South Carolina has hosted the Gamecock Classic every season since 1987? The Gamecocks won the inaugural event, and have won their tournament 16 times.
– Senior captain Vance Benson scored the first goal of his career, the game winner, vs. Charlotte on Sept. 6. He also contributed an assist on Carolina’s first goal in the match.
– Senior captain Stephen Morrissey leads the Gamecocks with two goals on the year, one vs. Charlotte and the other, a PK vs. Bradley.
– Sophomore midfielder JP Rafferty tallied the first goal of his career in South Carolina’s 2-2 tie vs. Bradley.
– Freshman Emmett Lunceford and sophomore Trevor Hubbard both earned the first assist of their career on Rafferty’s goal vs. Bradley.
– Sophomore forward Bradlee Baladez paces the Gamecocks with 14 shots thus far in 2011.
– South Carolina suffered a 1-0 loss to Brown last regular season, and a 1-0 loss to High Point in an exhibition contest last August.
– 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.

Scouting Brown
– Brown is off to a 3-1-0 start following three straight wins entering Friday’s contest vs. the Gamecocks. The Bears most recently earned a 2-1 win last Friday over George Mason, and a 2-0 shutout win over Temple last Sunday at the Brown Soccer Classic to win the event. Brown has scored seven goals on the year, holding opponents to just two. Senior forward TJ Popolizio paces the squad with three goals, including two game winners, and one assist. Senior forward Sean Rosa has contributed two goals on the year, while goalkeeper Alex Carr has logged the most minutes in net, 270:00, and holds a 2-1-0 record with three saves entering weekend play. Freshman Alex Markes was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Week last Monday for helping the Bears to a 3-0 record.

Scouting High Point
– High Point enters weekend action with a 1-2-1 record on the season, after most recently suffering a 2-1 overtime loss to St. Bonaventure in the Flash Gordon Invitation last Sunday. The Panthers’ lone win on the season was a 3-1 decision over Lipscomb on Sept. 1. Sophomore midfielder Alex Martinez paces the squad offensively with two goals on the year, while senior goalkeeper Michael Chesler has played in all four matches in net, logging 380:53 minutes, and earning 19 saves.