Oct. 14, 2011
October 14, 2011
| Coach Berson |
The South Carolina men’s soccer team (5-5-1, 3-1-0 C-USA) will host Conference USA leader Marshall (7-4-1, 3-0-1 C-USA) on Saturday at Stone Stadium. Match time is set for 7 p.m. Live stats and free live video for the contest will be available via GamecocksOnline.com.
GAME INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, October 15, 2011
Kick Off: 7 p.m. ET
Location: Columbia, S.C.
Stadium: Stone Stadium
Series: Marshall leads, 4-2-0
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.
– 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 is in the middle of a three-game homestand on Saturday, having hosted SMU on Wednesday, Marshall on Saturday and NC State on Oct. 18.
– Carolina’s match at UCF last Saturday was postponed due to high rain levels in the Orlando area. The match has been rescheduled for Nov. 1 at 4 p.m. in Orlando.
– South Carolina suffered a 3-2 loss against SMU in double overtime at Stone Stadium on Wednesday. South Carolina took a 2-1 lead in the 84th minute on an impressive goal by sophomore forward Bradlee Baladez, hitting a one-time volley from three yards away from frame, but SMU tied the match with a PK in the 88th minute, and earned the game winner on a direct free kick in the 102nd minute of play.
– Baladez’s five goals on the year lead the Gamecocks offensively, while senior midfielder Stephen Morrissey has tallied five goals, and freshman midfielder Braeden Troyer has four. Senior midfielder Danny Cates and junior defender/forward Mike Mangotic’s three assists are a team best, while redshirt-sophomore netminder Alex Long has played every minute in net this season for Carolina, collecting 26 saves and one shutout on the year.
– Junior defender/forward Mike Mangotic has transitioned from the defensive line to an offensive contributer this season. Mangotic has three assists on the year, including most recently earning the helper on Baladez’s tally versus SMU.
– Long collected the first shutout of his career at UAB on Oct. 4. While he didn’t register a save in the match, Long and the South Carolina defensive line of Danny Cates, Trevor Hubbard, Kevin Stam and Eric Martinez battled against 10 shots and 14 UAB corner kicks in the match.
Scouting Marshall
– Marshall enters Saturday’s contest leading Conference USA with a 3-0-1 mark in league action. The Thundering Herd added a victory to its 7-4-1 overall record with a 2-1 non-conference win over Shawnee State on Wednesday. Junior forward Tom Jackson leads the offense with eight goals and one assist for 17 points on the year. Sophomore forward Anthony Virgara has tallied three goals and junior midfielder Diego Ayala has posted two. Junior goalkeeper Daniel Winthrow leads Conference USA with a 0.70 goals against average, having allowed just eight goals in 11 starts this season. Winthrow’s 57 saves on the year are also a C-USA best.
Series History
– Marshall owns a 4-2-0 upperhand in the all-time series versus South Carolina, including a two-game win streak in the series entering Saturday’s match. The Thundering Herd owns a 2-1 advantage in games played in Columbia.
Last Year vs. Marshall
– South Carolina suffered a 4-1 loss on the road at Marshall during the 2010 season despite the Gamecocks holding a 24-8 advantage in shots in the match. Then-freshman forward Bradlee Baladez led the team with four shots, while six different Gamecocks managed at least one shot in the contest. Then-senior defender Will Traynor scored the lone South Carolina goal.
Up Next For South Carolina
– South Carolina takes a break from Conference USA play to host NC State on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
